4th Annual Single Mom’s Awards

HONORING GAYLE JACKSON

“Single Moms Planet Sports Mom of the Year Award”

We are proud to announce that we are honoring Gayle Jackson with the 2017 Sports Mom of the Year Award. Gayle is the Co-Founder and President of the DeSean Jackson Foundation, founded in 2009 to raise Pancreatic Cancer awareness, after her husband, Bill, died from Pancreatic Cancer while her son, DeSean Jackson, was a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles. The mission of the foundation is: To advance the common good by caring, cultivating, collaborating and advocating–One Team, One Purpose.

To date, DJF is one of many business ventures developed by DeSean and Gayle Jackson; but, the only non-profit entity in their diverse portfolio of interests and holdings. Gayle takes a considerable amount time and effort to keep DJF a separate, distinct brand with no encumbrances from DeSean’s personal or professional interests. DJF is a public charity that has been incorporated in each NFL city where DeSean plays with the intent and purpose to improve the quality of life for those in need, acceptance, sensitivity and tolerance through their unique brand and DeSean’s status in the NFL; and, the Jackson family is truly hands on. This requires a complex strategy of re-branding from the NFL franchise markets of the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and, as always their home base in Los Angeles, CA. Gayle also oversees all of DeSean’s professional and personal endeavors, brand and image as his mother, manager and business partner.

In 2013, the Jacksons were successful in bringing the documentary The Bill Jackson Project: The Making of a Father’s Dream to fruition. It was the result of 18 years of Byron Jackson documenting every aspect of the making of his NFL All Pro brother, wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, from Pop Warner to the NFL Pro Bowl; and, the rocky journey of a family to stay together through it all, despite their differences and in the face of mounting pressure; and Bill Jackson’s battle with Pancreatic Cancer. The documentary was distributed by several major cable outlets, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target and was selected for viewing at the prestigious San Francisco Black Film Festival XL, June 13th – 16th, 2013.

In 2015, BET debuted the unscripted, reality show, DeSean Jackson: Home Team, which one again profiled the Jackson family living the atypical everyday lives of a NFL family who’s matriarch is a single, phenomenal woman who leads a team of female associates who manage the personal and professional affairs of a high-profile professional athlete. Gayle received numerous accolades for her honest depiction of the obstacles, pitfalls, uncertainty and truth about the reality of being an NFL family; and, especially being a mother of a NFL player—her strength, resolve and brutal honesty. The reality show was filmed during NFL off-season and aired for one cycle on BET.

DeSean, A’Dreea, Byron, Gayle Jackson

Credit: BET, DeSean JacKson: Home Team

On June 16, 2017, the long-awaited Tupac Shakur biopic, All Eyez on Me, (another Jackson business venture) will be released. DeSean, is an investor, movie producer and has a cameo role. Gayle states this is part of God’s plan for transitioning her son for life after football with her blessing and support. Evidence of the values and virtue instilled in DeSean by his mother.

Gayle is a graduate of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, former probation officer for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was formerly employed at Warner Bros and Capitol Records, Los Angeles, CA in the legal, marketing & artist development (domestic & international) departments; Ron Sweeney, Esq. who managed Kylmaxx, Alexander O’Neal, Cherrell, The Time, BabyFace and others; and, Patrick Raines & Associates who managed Al Jarreau and other artists.

Gayle has been profiled numerous times during DeSean’s tenure in the NFL in regards to her work as a former board member, of the Professional Players’ Mothers Association (PFPMA); NFL Mom’s Read Across American Program, the Pancreatic Cancer “Purple Out” and as her son’s liaison with the NFL, NFLPA, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. She was also profiled in Ebony magazine in its special Mothers’ Day edition that highlighted prominent NFL players and their mothers; and, was one of the recipients of the 2015 Beauty In/Beauty Out (BIBO), Los Angeles, phenomenal women awards.

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