Taylor Rooks Launches Foundation To "Empower Underserved Communities"
Taylor Rooks Launches Her Own Foundation To “Empower Underserved Communities”
Taylor Rooks has risen the ranks within sports media, and now she’s pledging to use her influence for good.
The 33-year-old started her own nonprofit dubbed the Taylor Rooks Foundation, and her newly launched website gives a peek into how her story led to her new venture.
“The Taylor Rooks Foundation strives to empower underserved communities by meeting their overlooked needs with dignity, care and action,” reads the mission statement. “Inspired by Taylor’s own journey and the people and stories she has encountered, TRF is committed to expanding access to education, health, and opportunity for Black and Brown individuals and families.
TRF plans to accomplish its mission “Through direct giving, local partnerships, and a commitment to storytelling, TRF is building a future rooted in equity, where everyone has the resources to not just survive but to build a better tomorrow.”
In a statement to Blavity, Rooks says she is looking forward to helping build up the next generation with a little nudge.
“I believe that equity starts with access–access to care, to confidence, to opportunity,” she said. “My work is rooted in trust, community, and the radical idea that a single act of support can rewrite someone’s story.”
Playing off her last name, the foundation is rooted in the three Rs, which are as follows.
- REACH – opening doors to education, wellness, and access through providing educational resources, community wellness initiatives, small business support, and direct giving.
- RELIEVE – easing hardship by meeting urgent needs with care and providing support for health and recovery, crisis assistance, and essential living needs.
- REPRESENT – elevating the next generation of storytellers by championing the Rising Rooks Award, journalist mentorship, and organizing storytelling workshops.
To kick off her goals, Rooks appeared at New York’s Lower East Side Girls Club, where she made a donation and hung out with the children.
Next on her agenda is Teachers Supplies for Success, which helps relieve the financial burden on students and instructors by ensuring their backpacks are stocked with everything they need.
The Rooks Fund is backed by the Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc., a Texas-based nonprofit that empowers others and makes charity and community building more accessible.
