In 1998, Paul Phillips and Roland Pennington, former Central High School athletes established a 501© (3) non-profit corporation, Letter Jackets for Athletes, Inc., to raise funds for the purpose of purchasing letter jackets for all of the male and female high school athletes in the Little Rock School District. Due to budget cuts, these symbols of accomplishment, discipline and commitment were abse
nt from the halls of these school for many years. Consistent with our expansion goals, in 2001, the North Little Rock School District was added to the award program. Letter Jackets for Athletes, Inc. solicited private donations and organized certain fundraising events to secure the funding for these awards. Thanks to the generous contributions from area businesses and individuals over 5,897 male and female athletes are now proudly wearing their school colors. From 1998 to 2003, the primary fundraiser was the Letter Jacket Golf Classic. Due to the expansion of the award program, increased participation in athletics and the rising cost of letter jackets, it became necessary to obtain additional funding for the program. In 2003, Phillips and Pennington, met with Johnny Johnson, former Director of Athletics for the Little Rock School District who suggested a basketball tournament, “Jammin’ for Jackets” to help raise funds. Three years later, the tournament was renamed, Joe Johnson’s Jammin’ for Jackets due to his generous support. All proceeds of the “Jammin’ for Jackets’ Basketball Tournament are used to help secure the future and continued expansion of the program.
