Rising Stars: Meet Reggie Berry of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Reggie Berry

Hi Reggie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Reggie Berry is a former NFL player with the San Diego Chargers and a graduate of California State University Long Beach. After finishing his football career, Reggie became involved in a program focused on teaching goal setting to migrant students; however he wanted a program that would be open to all students. Reggie’s goal was to create an organization that could involve retired NFL alumni into public schools to mentor at-risk youth for a school year. In 1989 he founded the nonprofit Goals For Life Foundation, Inc.

*Background*

Reggie was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the consummate high school athlete, he led his football, baseball and track teams to state championships and received awards in football and basketball. An avid history buff in high school, Reggie became a sought after youth speaker, teaching black history at various colleges and service organizations throughout the state.

*Education*

Reggie received numerous offers for academic and football scholarships. He graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a B.A. in Sociology. In the football program there he made All Conference as a defensive back. Additionally Reggie is a credentialed teacher with the state of California.

*Professional Football*

Reggie is a former American football defensive back. He played in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and also in the World Football League with the Philadelphia Bell.

*Goals For Life Foundation*

Reggie started out teaching goal setting to migrant students; however he wanted a program that would be open to students of all ethnic groups. So he founded Goals For Life, a non-profit organization. Goals For Life sends retired NFL alumni into public schools to mentor at-risk youth for a school year. Reggie believes that the formula for winning in sports also applies to the world of education, business and life. Reggie and the former professional athletes teach the kids that a goal is something you want for your future; then they help the kids develop their goals and show them how they can win in life. The players teach the students that everything is a game, so find out what the rules are, stay in bounds and play to win. Goals For Life has been helping youth for over 30 years. During this time, more than 100 former NFL players have received supplemental income as well as a sense of purpose from changing the lives of over 50,000 students.

*Board of Directors NFL Former Players Association*

For nine years Reggie was one of the elected members of the National Football League Player Association Board of Directors; he is the longest serving board member in the history of the NFLPA. Reggie represented the interests of 19,000 former NFL players throughout the country. He was instrumental in bringing football related health and concussion issues up in front of congress, especially in regards to the impact on youth. Reggie has assisted in setting up studies to learn more about concussions and to help impacted retired players get free treatment. Reggie was also elected by former players all over the country to be on the Executive Committee, wherein he negotiated with the active players on behalf of the retired players. Reggie served a two year term on the NFLPA Executive Committee, during which he was the highest elected individual in the NFL Players Association.

*Awards*
1998 Southern California Inter-Scholastic Federation John Wooden Award

1998 National Freedom Award in Washington D.C. for outstanding service to youth

2002 Eureka Fellowship Award from the United Way

2005 Charity of the Year Award presented by Sports Mavericks Smart Talk

2006 AMFML Inspirational Award by the Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles for work with children through the Goals For Life program

2007 Teachers Making a Difference Award at the Cherry Blossom Festival

2010 Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Youth Inspiration Award

2011 Unsung Athlete Award from The Black Academy of Arts & Letters, presented at the Super Bowl

2013 Best Charity Award, Norwalk Chamber of Commerce

2013 People Helping People Award from Touching Lives TV

2015 Certificate of Recognition, City of Long Beach

2016 Certificate of Recognition, City of Long Beach

2016 California’s Strongest People You Can Bank On Integrity Award, Farmers & Merchants Bank

*Hobbies*
Reggie is a lifelong student of history and sociology. He also enjoys golf.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most difficult challenge keeping a nonprofit going is funding. Goals For Life has been helping youth for 35 years. We have impacted over 50,000 students.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Nonprofit Executive Director 33 years. For last 2 years, Founding Director.

*GOALS FOR LIFE*
Goals For Life, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, is an educational youth development program that, in coordination with local school districts, teaches potentially at-risk youth the skills and strategies that are necessary for success in life. Goals For Life has a team of former professional athletes who have been carefully trained to deliver a detailed curriculum in public schools.

Goals For Life sends the former athletes into schools to facilitate goal setting workshops with students who demonstrate maladaptive behaviors, as well as any students wishing to learn success principles. Drawing on their personal experiences, the athletes speak of the enthusiasm, drive and determination that were primary factors in achieving their goals. GFL athlete mentors teach students that what applies to the world of sports, also applies to education and to life. The students discover that qualities such as integrity, preparation, high self-esteem, perseverance and the confidence to succeed are a winning combination in all fields and endeavors.

For over 30 years, GFL has utilized the talents of former professional athletes to deliver a goal-oriented curriculum structured to motivate students and ensure that they understand, embrace and practice success principles.

*HISTORY*
Goals For Life was founded by Reggie Berry, former NFL player with the San Diego Chargers and a graduate of California State University Long Beach. After finishing his football career, Reggie became involved in a program focused on teaching goal setting to migrant students; however he wanted a program that would be open to all students. Reggie’s goal was to create an organization that could involve retired NFL alumni into public schools to mentor at-risk youth for a school year. In 1989 he founded the nonprofit Goals For Life Foundation, Inc.

Reggie believes that the formula for winning in sports also applies to the world of education, business and life. The mentors teach the kids that a goal is something you want for your future; then they help the students develop their goals and show them how they can win in life. The players teach the students that everything is a game, so find out what the rules are, stay in bounds and play to win. GFL has been helping youth for over 30 years. More than 100 former NFL players have helped change the lives of over 50,000 students.

GFL set up its current board structure in 2010 and is now governed by an outstanding group of educators, business entrepreneurs, former athletes, doctors, lawyers and community leaders.

What makes you happy?
I always wanted to work with kids. I’m happy I was able to realize that dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goalsforlife.net
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoalsForLifeFoundation
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoalsForLifeFoundation