ACT - NFL Alumni

NFL Alumni & Partners Provide
FREE ONLINE ACT PREP for 8th-12th graders

Funding provided by the NFL Alumni’s “Caring for Kids Campaign” and the above-noted non-profits via the NFL Foundation’s “Social Justice” Matching Grant Program

3 Easy Steps to Participate

Click button below to register
After registration, students will receive an email with directions to sign-up for an ACT exam date and to download the Go-to-Meeting software.
Sign-in on your test date to take the FREE group online ACT diagnostic exam

Participants Will Receive

Access to the FREE group online ACT diagnostic exam
Access to the live and/or taped online tutoring sessions
Access to the customized online ACT prep with 6 full tests & over 1,600 practice questions
Entry into the NFL Alumni Memorabilia Raffle with prizes that include signed jerseys, mini-helmets, footballs, etc.
“College Funding Strategy” Tips and 3 FREE college funding webinars for parents from TheCollegeMoneyTeam

Program Information

The NFL Alumni (NFLA), E.L. Tarlton & Associates, Inc., Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc. (HELP) and its “Social Justice Initiative,” The Lane of Hope Foundation, The Fast Lane Foundation, The McNeil Foundation and Teach a Child to Fish have all partnered to deliver free ACT exam prep and tutoring services to youth across America. This will be provided through the NFL Alumni’s “Caring for Kids” mission. As well as the noted non-profits via the NFL Foundation’s Social Justice Matching Grant Program.

The partnership with the non-profits helps to advance the NFL Alumni’s “Caring for Our Own” and “Caring for Kids” initiatives and leverages opportunities provided by the National Football League’s Inspire Change Initiative and grant opportunities through the National Football League Foundation. The focus of the collaboration is an effort to provide high-impact, shelter-in-place, data-based college, and career readiness programming to students during the current national COVID-19 crisis and school shut-downs.

“We were looking for an opportunity for our members to take part in the NFL’s Inspire Change Initiative in addressing social justice issues, especially in the 37 communities that we have alumni chapters,” says NFL Alumni President Bart Oates. “Through this partnership, we feel that we have created the opportunity for the NFLA to join in the movement, during these trying times, in a meaningful way.”

Last year, HELP teamed up with 32 former NFL players, local law enforcement and community leaders to deliver college and career readiness as well as social justice programming to 10 high varsity football teams across three states (Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana). From the 2-day workshops, the following is a sample of key data points that highlight the impact of the program on both youth and law enforcement:

Trust was built: 90% of students and 98% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agreed”
The ability to have challenging conversations on social justice issues were established: 89% of students and 96% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agree”
College & Career Readiness knowledge was increased: 91% of students and 96% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agree”
HELP’s program can be used as a model for improving law enforcement interactions with students: 93% of students and 98% law enforcement “Strongly Agree” or “Agreed”
Students interest in a career in law enforcement increased: Scores went from 29% “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” before the workshop to 82% after

This year, HELP and its “Social Justice Initiative” increased its reach by teaming up with The Lane of Hope Foundation, The Fast Lane Foundation, The McNeil Foundation, and Teach a Child to Fish, non-profits which are all run by former NFL players, along with law enforcement agencies, and over 50 former NFL Players.

“The NFL and its Inspire Change Initiative was searching for a program that could be modeled and provide data towards best practices and we feel that HELP’s college and career readiness and social justice program not only addressed that need, as shown by last year’s high-impact statistics but also shows its ability to be flexible and dynamic through this year’s COVID-19 inspired online ACT exam prep program,” said HELP Consulting, Inc.’s President & CEO, and its “Social Justice Initiative” Executive Director, Edward L. Tarlton, Ph.D.

“I am excited for the NFL Alumni to be a part of this collaborative initiative that brings so many stakeholders together to positively impact youth and support and promote higher education, workforce readiness, social justice and productive citizenry in NFL Alumni communities where former players and youth live, learn, play and work,” says Beasley Reece, NFL Alumni President.

Program Partners

About NFL Alumni

NFL Alumni was founded in 1967 and is the oldest and most recognizable national organization of retired professional athletes. NFL Alumni consists of former NFL players, coaches, executives, spouses, cheerleaders, and associate members. NFL Alumni’s mission “Caring for our Own” is to serve, assist, and inform its members and their families. NFL Alumni offers a wide array of medical, financial and business programs to help members lead healthy, productive, and successful lives. NFL Alumni also promotes the post-playing careers of its members and it also contributes to local community initiatives under its “Caring for Kids” programs. For more information please visit www.nflalumni.org

About Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc. (HELP)
HELP is a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2011, whose mission is to help students get “to and through” high school, college, graduate school, and on to careers. To accomplish the mission, HELP partners with youth-serving organizations, faith-based institutions, businesses, community leaders, and secondary and postsecondary institutions to enhance college and career readiness levels enabling students to become productive members of society where they live and work. For more information please visit www.helpconsulting.org

About HELP’s “Social Justice Initiative”
Higher Education & Learning Professional Consulting, Inc.’s “Social Justice Initiative” addresses the need for intentional, data-driven programming and interventions to improve community – law enforcement relations by building trust, creating opportunities for difficult conversations surrounding social justice issues, and increase college and career preparation. For more information please visit www.helpsji.com

About Teach a Child To Fish
Teach a Child to Fish (TACTF) was started by Decatur, GA native, Tennessee State University football standout, former NFL player, and Bass World League founder and professional angler Kendall Newson. Teach a Child to Fish’s mission is to teach and mentor youth through fishing programs, to help them find their true value of life, and to preserve and protect the great outdoors. His love for fishing began at the age of five. His father, an avid fisherman, would take the entire family fishing regularly. After his career in the NFL as a wide receiver, Kendall’s love for fishing increased, and he developed the desire to teach children all over the world how to fish and its relationship to leadership and personal development. For more information please visit www.tactf.org

About The Fast Lane Foundation
The Fast Lane Foundation was started by Decatur, GA native, University of Georgia football standout and former NFL player Fred Lane. Fast Lane’s mission is to give back through service with a focus on increasing students’ college and career readiness and ACT Test Prep, love for reading, and community-police relations

About The Lane of Hope
The Lane of Hope Foundation was started by Lufkin, TX, native, Texas A&M University football standout, and former NFL player Jorvorskie Lane. He started The Lane of Hope Foundation in 2016 after suffering a horrific, career-ending, leg injury in the last game of the 2016 season. He is passionate about providing educational programs for disadvantaged youth, particularly for kids in rural areas because of his upbringing and first-hand understanding of their needs and lack of resources.

About The McNeil Foundation
The McNeil Foundation was started by Highland Springs, VA, native, University of Tennessee-Martin football standout, and former NFL player Emanuel McNeil. He started the organization to honor the legacy of his daughter Moriah McNeil who died of cancer and his Brother Carlos McNeil that died from gun violence. He is committed to giving back to disadvantaged communities to address college and career readiness and ACT Test Prep, youth’s love of reading, gun violence, and community-police relations. He wants to give kids the opportunities that Moriah and Carlos did not have.