South Holland–based J & P National Youth Empowerment Network, NFP (J&P NYEN) recently visited the Meijer supercenter at 3800 Vollmer Road in Flossmoor, Illinois to receive a check for $5,000. The check presentation was conducted by store director Jerome Davis, who leads the Flossmoor store that serves residents of Homewood, Flossmoor and the surrounding south‑suburban communities.
The grant was made through Meijer Team Gives, a corporate philanthropy program that empowers team members in each Meijer store, distribution facility and supply‑chain location to choose local nonprofit organizations for support. Since the program began in 2021, each location has been given $10,000 per year to donate to nonprofits in its communit]. According to Meijer, team members work together to identify organizations making a difference in their neighborhoods, and they decide whether to award one organization the full $10,000 or split it into two $5,000 grants. Over the past five years Meijer Team Gives has donated nearly $15 million to hundreds of nonprofits across the Midwest.
Store director Jerome Davis explained that the Flossmoor team wanted to support a program that invests in local youth. “This donation allows our team members to directly strengthen the community where we live and work,” Davis said, noting that Meijer’s company values include fostering generosity and building stronger communities.
About J & P National Youth Empowerment Network
Founded in 2023, J&P NYEN is a minority‑led, community‑based nonprofit that focuses on empowering underserved youth in Chicago’s Southland and nearby Chicago neighborhoods. The organization provides programs that foster workforce readiness, leadership development, entrepreneurship skills, life skills and mental‑health support. It serves youth ages 11–17 who face systemic barriers such as poverty, exposure to violence and limited access to education or employment opportunities. J&P NYEN uses a trauma‑informed approach, offering mentoring, youth‑led community engagement initiatives, educational workshops and civic involvement. Its core values include equity, empowerment, community engagement and resilience.
Significance of the donation
The $5,000 grant from Meijer Team Gives will directly support J&P NYEN’s mission to provide transformative opportunities for young people. According to Dr. Mariann Jordan, the organization’s CEO, the funds will help expand mentoring and leadership programs, provide educational materials and ensure that more South‑land youth can participate in upcoming events. J&P NYEN expressed gratitude to the entire Flossmoor Meijer team for selecting them as a recipient and emphasized that the donation is more than a check—it is an investment in the future of the community.
Continued partnership
Meijer Team Gives has become a significant component of the retailer’s corporate social‑responsibility efforts. The program’s ability to engage associates in philanthropic decision‑making is one reason it has grown so quickly; Meijer notes that giving back is embedded in its culture. Through partnerships with organizations like J&P NYEN, Meijer demonstrates how large retailers can empower local teams to invest in the neighborhoods they serve while strengthening youth‑serving programs.
As J&P NYEN celebrates the grant, the organization is planning a series of community events and youth workshops to put the funds into action. Residents of Homewood, Flossmoor and neighboring communities are encouraged to follow J&P NYEN’s social media channels for updates and to learn how they can get involved. The grant underscores the positive impact that collaborative corporate‑nonprofit partnerships can have on empowering the next generation.
