NEWS RELEASE

On behalf of the Jake Owen Foundation, his father Steve Owen and brother, Jarrod Owen recently delivered a check for $20,000 to Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy. They also took a tour of the building and learned of the many free programs offered for low-income children at Youth Guidance. For many years, Jake Owen and his family have been great supporters of Youth Guidance.

Born and raised in Vero Beach, Jake Owen still has family living in Indian River County. He returns every year to hold a concert to benefit the foundation. Last year, he brought a two-day concert to town, titled “Jake Owen Homemade Weekend” which included a special acoustic concert featuring Owen and music icon, Jimmy Buffett.

“Jake Owen has not forgotten his hometown. He and his family have been providing assistance to various youth organizations, including Youth Guidance, for years,” said Phil Barnes, Executive Director of Youth Guidance.  “We are so grateful for the continued, generous support from the Jake Owen Foundation. This will help us continue our programs to help children break the cycle of poverty and become contributing members to the Indian River County community.”

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem, and positive futures. Founded in 1973,

Youth Guidance serves children ages 5-18 from low-income families.   Children receive daily meals and participate in one-on-one and group mentoring programs that include: cooking, sewing, trade skills, life skills, S.T.E.A.M, tutoring, community service, and more. All programming occurs after school and during the summer, and it is completely free for families. If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance, please call 772.492.3933, or visit our website at http://www.youthguidanceprogram.org.

About the Jake Owen Foundation

The Jake Owen Foundation was established in 2010 as a registered 501 (C) 3 private nonprofit foundation through the vision and effort by Jake Owen initially to offer financial support on a national level to children battling cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.  He has also been providing assistance to various youth organizations and charities in Owen’s hometown of Vero Beach, Florida and surrounding Indian River County.

Today, the Jake Owen Foundation is proud to be able to expand its mission of helping people in the places they call home, all while supporting the beneficiaries who have been a part of the Foundation since its inception. Our helping hands are able to reach out anywhere and everywhere to make a difference — raising funds through private donations, brand partnerships, and special events assisting child and youth programs, education, healthcare, fitness, nutrition, enrichment, and crisis care. By supporting organizations and charitable partners everywhere, the Jake Owen Foundation is evolving into a national charity, with a local approach. To date, the Jake Owen Foundation has raised more than $1.6 million dollars for charitable causes and for other nonprofit organizations.

Funding for the nonprofit Jake Owen Foundation and providing aid is generated primarily through monies raised from the annual Jake Owen Foundation Benefit Concert, Songwriters Showcase and Hale Groves / Jake Owen Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tournament held each December in Vero Beach. It does not stop there, however. The ultimate goal of the Jake Owen Foundation is to grow its mission worldwide.