our story
1 JAR FOUNDATION IN HONORING JANARI ANDRE RICKS 2011-2020
Janari Andre Ricks was born on January 27, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois to proud parents, Jalisa Ford and Raymond Ricks. Janari Ricks, 9, shined in school, an honor roll student at Ruben Salazer Elementary on the city's Near North Side, and was going to fourth grade Fall of 2020. He also loved sports, and his beaming face was a regular sight in the Cabrini Green neighborhood, where he lived.
Janari was playing outside with friends when he was suddenly gunned down. Janari Ricks was just 9 years old, but in the former Cabrini Green neighborhood, that he called home, his name meant a lot to so many people that this loss affected several individuals well beyond Janari's family. Several community members, both adults and grieving youth, neighbors, teachers, classmates, friends-- Anyone Janari had touched, just by being himself-- was impacted. The impact he also had on strangers hearing the news in the media reflected the reach of Janari's Legacy.
Seeing a need for energetic, non-profit work in these areas, we formed our Foundation to provide sensible solutions! We've consistently grown since inception, all thanks to the love and helping hands of so many!
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