WHO WE ARE
Our story began in 2012 as the Jackson In Action 83 Foundation. Founded by former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson and his wife, Lindsey, we have operated many programs with the goal of honoring the strength and sacrifice of military families, all of which were inspired by Vincent’s own upbringing in a military household. Following Vincent’s untimely passing in 2021, the foundation needed a new identity to reflect who we are now with Lindsey and the four Jackson children carrying the organization into the future. In September 2025, we officially became the Vincent Jackson Family Foundation. While we keep Vincent’s legacy at the forefront of our minds, we have evolved to include a program that strengthens both military and civilian families.
The mission of the Vincent Jackson Family Foundation is to provide support to military and civilian families, focusing on their overall wellness.
VINCENT’S STORY
As the son of two military parents, Vincent Jackson was raised with structure and discipline. His dad, Terence, served in the Army for 21 years. He met Sherry, Vincent’s mom, while in boot camp. As a child, Vincent’s father was sometimes deployed, and during his youth Vincent even lived on a U.S. Army base in Grafenwoehr, Germany.
Known for his prowess on the football field, Vincent excelled as a straight A student at Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, CO, graduating with a 4.1 GPA. His excellent academic performance earned his acceptance to Columbia University, but Vincent chose to attend the University of Northern Colorado on scholarship. He played both football and basketball during his four years on campus. While earning All-American Honors at UNC and becoming the school’s All-Time Leading Receiver, Vincent majored in Business in an effort to prepare for his post-football career. Although he left UNC before completing his degree in order to declare for the NFL Draft, Vincent eventually graduated from the University of South Florida in 2016 with a degree in Business Management.
Vincent was selected in the second round (61st overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He went on to enjoy a 12-year NFL career, playing five years in San Diego before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 13, 2012. Throughout his career, Vincent was selected to three Pro Bowls and was voted by his teammates as team captain and the Buccaneers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year multiple times. Vincent got to experience flight with the USAF Thunderbirds in 2014, and in 2015 Vincent was named the NFL’s Salute to Service Award winner, presented annually by USAA to acknowledge the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. In 2016, Vincent served as Honorary Commander to the 6th Force Support Squadron Commander at MacDill Air Force Base.
During his off-seasons while playing with the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vincent did more than just stay in shape. He invested in a variety of businesses in the hospitality, apparel, real estate, and fitness realms, resulting in what was a diversified his business portfolio.
Knowing exactly what life was like for kids growing up in a military familiy, in 2012 Vincent and his wife, Lindsey, launched the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation in order to provide support to military families, focusing on the educational, emotional, and physical health of the children. The Jackson family eventually added four children, Carter, Amaya, Dominick, and Miles. Vincent passed away on February 15, 2021, but his legacy remains alive and well through the continuation of the Vincent Jackson Family Foundation.
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