Play It Protect It Campaign supporting helmet safety

Shortcuts

• Address
• Telephone
• Alerts
• Contact The Organization
• Claim ownership or report listing

• 

  Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Jacksonville?

The Story

It is estimated that as many as 2 million children suffer concussions each year as a result of competitive sports. Every concussion, no matter how small, is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and while concussions in adults can be mild and allow for complete recovery, concussions in children are associated with serious health risks. Nonetheless, youth sports continue to be popular and for many good reasons. To help protect against the risk of TBI in youth sports while also preserving those sports, the Tony Meduri TBI Fund, Inc. (a non-profit organization) has launched the “Play it, Protect it” campaign to help educate parents and schools on the need for helmet safety in youth sports.

There are two primary methods to help reduce the risk of TBIs on the sports field: having the right protective equipment and providing TBI education. We have secured relationships with top ranked helmet manufacturing companies to allow us to purchase helmets at a reduced cost. We are located in Jacksonville, Florida, which is the largest city in the state of Florida. Not surprisingly, Jacksonville has a large population of youths who participate in tackle football. We will select qualified Duval County middle and high school athletic departments to educate coaches and players on concussion prevention and management, and ensure all students have access to high-quality, up-to-date protective head gear for their respective sports.

Unfortunately, student athletes in our local schools face greater barriers than those in some other communities to accessing appropriate protective head gear and education. Our local public school funding is currently facing fiscal challenges and resources are focused on stabilizing aging school buildings. While the school district addresses these issues, we plan to step in and ensure that the safety of our student athletes is not disregarded.

The Tony Meduri TBI Fund Inc is a nonprofit 501c3 organization founded in January 2015, in honor of Tony Meduri a retired police officer of 32 years. Tony was hit from behind by an uninsured, drugged driver, sustained a TBI and life-altering injuries. He ultimately passed away and his memory lives on with us through our nonprofit and community service.