Mission Statement

The Mark Clayton Foundation is dedicated to serving the community as we aim to fulfill our mission: to support the children and families living in the foster care system by improving their overall quality of life. We will accomplish our mission by providing opportunities for youth leadership development, financial assistance, and academic enrichment. Ultimately, we seek to enhance the social well-being of the young people most plagued by economic misfortune and tragic life circumstances.

Programming

MCF Educational Enrichment Fund - We are excited about the launch of a two-pronged education initiative through the Foundation. Part I will consist of awarding scholarships to deserving high school seniors preparing to enroll in 4-year universities. Candidates must be products of the foster care system, and will be assessed on several criteria, including grade point average, citizenship, teacher recommendations and a personal essay. Scholarships will be awarded annually to students in the cities and surrounding areas of Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Baltimore. Part II will involve a gifting program for school-aged children who need assistance acquiring the tools for academic success. Areas of need include- but are not limited to- school supplies, clothing, technology in the home, and after school enrichment. We will work closely throughout the year with family service departments in all three cities to identify and select children to receive these items.

Thanksgiving Feast - This is an annual feeding program that provides groceries for a true Thanksgiving experience to hundreds of inner-city families in Baltimore. 2008 will witness an expansion of this program, as the MCF plans to bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to young people in the state of Oklahoma by adopting a foster family or small group home and sponsoring a fresh cooked Thanksgiving meal.

Christmas with Mark - Each year, the Mark Clayton Foundation identifies families in Oklahoma City and Dallas/ Ft. Worth that have faced hardship during the year yet maintain a positive outlook and allow their faith to sustain them. During a personal visit, Mark or his mother and MCF co-founder JacQuetta Clayton bring holiday cheer and groceries to the family’s home, along with a gift cards to local retailers. All of the groceries are meant for preparing a holiday meal of Mark’s favorite foods, and the gift cards will provide a gift shopping experience for all of the children in the home.

KaBOOM! Playground Projects - The Mark Clayton Foundation with KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. We will act as the Community Partner on the project by identifying a suitable location for the construction of a playground and providing funding, build volunteers, and maintenance for the completed play area. Our specific aim is to provide recreational spaces for children and adolescents living in group homes in the states of Maryland, Texas, and Oklahoma.

For questions about The Mark Clayton Foundation, please write to:

Mark Clayton Foundation
PO Box 54-1171
Grand Prairie, TX 75054-1172


Mark Clayton Foundation
2 East Read Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Mark is also active in the Maryland community in other ways, helping the Ravens with events such as the Thanksgiving Day distribution to families in need.  Mark is also interested in all charities that provide assistance to single moms in need.

Here is a recap of Mark's charity work since 2005:

February 2008 -- SuperBowl XLII - NFL Yet Academy contribution. (Mark donated in partnership with other NFL players and charities to the Espiritu Carter School athletic Department. Monies will help fund the purchase of new vehicles for game transportation for athletes in all sports).

December 2007 -- Christmas with Mark - Oklahoma City, OK and Dallas, TX. The Mark Clayton Foundation took a moment to lend a helping hand to two families this holiday season. Read the Full Press Release

November 2007 -- Mark Clayton Foundation partnered with The Ray Lewis Foundation to feed 400+ people in the inner-city of Baltimore for Thanksgiving. All families received a Turkey and Ham along with all the fixins. They also provided hygiene items and shook hands with every family that came to the benefit. Other Raven Players such as Steve McNair and Romby Bryant also came out to support this benefit. In addition, Sheila Dixon the Mayor designee was on board passing out dinners and shaking hands with the families.

March 2007 Balls & Dolls Toy Drive and Easter Egg Hunt- Fort Worth, TX. Read the Full Press Release

December 2006 -- Mark Clayton Foundation partnered with The Baltimore M.O.M. Squad (Mom's on a Mission) to give 450 children a Christmas to remember. The children were given $50.00 gift cards to Wal-Mart and Target. We then went on field trips with the children to Wal-Mart and Target while they did their own shopping the week of December 11th. On Monday, December 18th, the children were given a party that included dinner, gift bags that included Clayton Bobble-heads, interactive games at their tables, various toys, and special entertainment and words of encouragement by Patti Labelle and words of encouragement by Carolyn Smith (Mother of Will Smith).  Read the Full Press Release

November 2006 -- Mark Clayton Foundation partnered with The Ray Lewis Foundation to feed 400+ people in the inner-city of Baltimore for Thanksgiving. All families received a Turkey and Ham along with all the fixins. They also provided hygiene items and shook hands with every family that came to the benefit. Other Raven Players such as Steve McNair and Romby Bryant also came out to support this benefit. In addition, Sheila Dixon the Mayor designee was on board passing out dinners and shaking hands with the families.

July 2006 -- Mark Clayton Foundation donated sponsored dollars to Education is Freedom and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity for the sake of families affected by the Hurricanes Rita and Katrina that has been forced to stay in the Dallas, TX area.

June 2006 -- Mark Clayton Foundation partnered with Larry Jones of Feed the Children to provide food and hygiene supplies to 800 Families in New Orleans, LA. Mark Clayton was touched by the devastating hurricane that hit New Orleans in August 2005, and wanted to give back to the families as they were 9 months later still in a struggle to make a living and complete the rebuild of their homes. In result of Mark's giving, the City of New Orleans gave Mark Clayton and his Mother, JacQuetta Clayton, a proclamation presented by The City Council President, Oliver Thomas.

December 8, 2005 --  Mark was a personal shopper at teammates Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason’s Inaugural Holiday Helper Event.

November 22, 2005 -- Mark along with Unilever, Frito-Lay, The Law Offices of Steven H. Heisler, The Bakers’ Union and Schmidt Bakery provided 300 needy families from Baltimore Westside with Thanksgiving in their own homes.  Each family received a 12 – 14 lb Turkeys, rolls, potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, macaroni & cheese, stuffing, Kool Aid, dessert, Frito-Lay snacks and Unilever’s laundry detergent. 

November 2005 -- Mark Clayton Foundation provided 100 Families with a Thanksgiving Turkey and Ham Dinner with all the fixins. The Foundation catered to New Orleans families in the Grand Prairie, TX area. Dr. Denny D. Davis, the Pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, TX. opened the doors of the church and allowed Mark Clayton Foundation the use of the gymnasium space to distribute the food to the families.

October 17, 2005 -- Mark along with teammates Todd Heap and Kyle Boller co-hosted the Goodwill Gridiron Halloween Party.

September 5, 2005 -- Mark donated $20,000 to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.  The contribution effort, headed by his mother, JacQuetta, was directed to Centurion Faith Foundation, where she teamed with church members and other friends from the community to purchase and distribute necessities to the victims that have been relocated to the Clayton’s hometown of Arlington, Texas.

September 2005 -- Mark helped 93 families affected by Hurricane Katrina by providing them with $100 Wal-Mart Gift Cards, $50 Gas Cards, Furniture, Clothing, Shoes, Groceries, etc... Mark executed his efforts through his Mother, J acQuetta Clayton, who gathered volunteer from the city and set-up local venues to distribute the benefits to the many families from New Orleans as they emerged into the Dallas metroplex.

August 24, 2005 --  Mark teamed up with Unilever, Baltimore City Council President Sheila Dixon, Thomas’ English Muffins and Frito-Lay, to distribute backpacks, school supplies and food to 140 children from the Pleasantview Gardens Boys & Girls Club of Central Maryland.