PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria native and Chief Financial Officer of a major auto parts company is helping the schools he graduated from, help students.
Jamere Jackson was the keynote speaker Thursday at the Peoria Public Schools Foundation’s annual “365” Breakfast Fundraiser — which raises money for a number of programs in and out of the classroom.
“I have a lot of affinity for education,” said Jackson. “I have a lot of affinity for helping underserved communities. Certainly, the work of the Peoria Public Schools Foundation fits in to that sweet spot, if you will.”
Jackson says what he learned as a graduate of Manual High School has been important for him in life.
“I had fantastic teachers and guidance counselors and basketball coaches who all poured in to me in a very meaningful way,” said Jackson. “[They] gave me a lot of confidence to be able to dream big and go after the kinds of things I wanted to go after in life.”
Jackson says the best advice he’s received in life: work hard, don’t complain, don’t make excuses, be thankful for opportunities, and find ways to give back.
Jackson joined AutoZone a year and a half ago after stints as CFO at Hertz Rent-A-Car and the Nielsen Company.
Lest you think the AutoZone executive forgot where he came from, after the fundraiser, not only did he have to visit Mom and Dad, he says they had chores for him to do.
The 365 fundraiser is at more than $40,000 of its $55,000 goal. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Peoria Public Schools Foundation.
