Long before it became a nationally recognized curriculum, Winning in Life® began as Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s personal blueprint for rising above circumstance. Now, with Boeing’s backing, that blueprint is poised to reach even more youth who need it most.
On Friday morning in East St. Louis, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant from Boeing. And for the young people who walk through the doors of the JJK Center every day, this investment means the world is about to open a little wider.
For Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the Olympic legend whose name is synonymous with excellence, Boeing reaffirmed a mission she has been building for decades.
“This grant represents more than funding—it represents belief in our youth,” Joyner-Kersee said. “Through JJK Winning in Life®, we are teaching young people how to dream big, stay disciplined, and overcome obstacles. With Boeing’s support, we can continue to support our pillars of academics, athletics and nutrition.”
Long before it became an evidence-based national model, Winning in Life® was born from the pages of Joyner-Kersee’s autobiography, A Kind of Grace. In it, she reflects on the values that carried her from East St. Louis to the Olympic podium: discipline, resilience, humility, and the belief that greatness is possible—even when circumstances say otherwise.
Those reflections became 14 core principles, which evolved into a structured program blending social-emotional learning, leadership development, goal setting, and workforce readiness. Over the years, Winning in Life® has become a lifeline for youth who need motivation, tools, mentors, and a roadmap.
The program has been implemented in schools, community centers, and youth-serving organizations across the region. And with each new site, the impact has grown. The outcomes are higher attendance, stronger academic engagement, and young people who begin to see themselves as capable of shaping their futures.
With Boeing’s support, the Foundation is preparing to take Winning in Life® to its next chapter. The grant will allow the organization to:
• Expand the program to more schools and youth organizations
• Increase access to curriculum materials and certified training for educators and mentors
• Strengthen partnerships with community institutions
• Enhance digital learning tools to reach youth in underserved communities nationwide
“At Boeing, we want to make sure that we prepare the next generation for the future as far as innovation and STEM,” said Dr. Candace Howell, Community Investment Strategy Lead for the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and the Central Region. “Partnering with the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center helps us achieve this as well.”
In East St. Louis, the JJK Center has long been a place where young people learn to run their own race—literally and figuratively. Through the work of her foundation, which is now in its 26th year, Joyner-Kersee built the center so that children growing up in the same community that shaped her would have access to opportunities she had to fight for.
Winning in Life® is the heartbeat of that vision.
It teaches young people how to navigate challenges with grace, how to set goals with intention, and how to see themselves as leaders long before the world hands them a title. And now, with Boeing’s investment, that heartbeat will echo even farther—reaching classrooms, community centers, and youth programs across the country.
From the moment she claimed her place on the world’s biggest sports stages, Joyner-Kersee has used her platform to make sure the next generation has the chance to win in life long before they ever step onto a track. And with this new support from Boeing, thousands more young people—in her hometown of East St. Louis and beyond—will get that chance.