Seattle Seahawks game at the Georgia Dome

The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation invited representatives of the Jim Mora Flag Football League program to attend the Dec. 30 Seattle vs. Atlanta game.  The program, which runs August through November each year through the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, culminates in a Flag Football Tournament the day before Thanksgiving.  The Foundation invited the athletes from the League to come out and meet Coach before the game and watch the Seahawks play the Falcons.  In addition to the tickets and sideline passes to the game, each attendee received a Seahawks t-shirt as well.

Holiday Gift Bags to the Boys at the Gwinnett Children's Shelter Long Term Home for Boys

Jim and Shannon Mora sent surprise holiday gifts to the residents of the Gwinnett Children's Shelter Long Term Home for Boys.  The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation, which granted the shelter monies the past two years, wanted to surprise the boys with sports bags to make the holiday special, so they contacted Susie Ryan, Director of Development for the Shelter to get her backpacks filled with shirts, hats, an NFL Madden game, and other gifts for each resident.

Who Can YOU Count On Holiday Contest

The holidays are a wonderful time to reflect on the year and remember those who "made a difference in your life."  In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation developed a contest to honor those special people that give of themselves all year long. In 250 words or less, participants were asked to please tell us who "YOU can count on" and why..

All of the submissions were great -- Congratulations to the following
contest winners:

Jimmy Freels, Henderson Middle School/AAASP Athlete
Coach Mark Miller

Brianna Little, Matthews Boys & Girls Club Athlete
Coach Dominique Oscar

Katy Wilson, Special Olympics Athlete
Coach Heather Terrell

Each of the winners received a SPECIAL HOLIDAY PACK for both themselves AND their COACH, FILLED with goodies including the following:  Reebok backpacks, t-shirts, fun football items, a Seattle Seahawks football, signed by Coach Mora, Count On Me shirts and wristbands, and more!

Click HERE to read the winning submissions...

Children's Healthcare Holiday Hospital Project

The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation's special volunteers helped continue the Holiday tradition of helping out local children's hospitals in this very special time of year. This year, the Foundation donated crib toys and helped to stuff "baby bags" for the patients (and their families) in the Neo-Natal Unit this holiday.  The bags were given to all of the patients in the unit on Christmas day.

Jim Mora Flag Football League Turkey Bowl-

2007 Jim Mora Flag Football Turkey Bowl Wrap Up – by Eric Osborne, Manager of Club Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

The 2007 Jim Mora Flag Football Turkey Bowl was a huge success. This was the first year that all Clubs with a program participated in the tournament. The Mora Tournament also had it largest participation of players and volunteers, with over 300 players and 50 volunteers involved in a really fun day. The Mora “Count on Me Foundation” was instrumental in helping us provide over 800 kids with uniforms and provide Clubs with equipment to line and mark fields. The kids had a great time at the new venue that included 5 fields in use for the opening rounds, and climaxing with the finals at the NFL/YET’s great artificial turf field. All teams received certificates and the teams in the finals received medals. The teams (voted on by the officials and volunteers) that exhibited the best sportsmanship will represent the Mora League in an out of town flag tournament. We are very grateful to the Count on Me Foundation in helping us provide a FANTASTIC flag football experience for our youth.

The 2007 Jim Mora Flag Football League—Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta

The Jim Mora Flag Football League is underway with a record 16 clubs participating (58 teams) and over 750 kids in the League this year.  The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation, supports the League and the year-end event—helping with participation fees, team jerseys and trophies, individual medals, and even a plaque for the best tailgate party—through a grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.  For more information, please log onto:  www.bgcma.org or contact the Senior Director of Club Services at 404-688-8319.

2007 Football Season begins, GO Seahawks!

Grant Recipients Announced

Annual Grant Cycle Begins

The Super Seattle Send Off Benefit Bash fundraising event, presented by AirTran Airways, was a great success, bringing in close to $100,000 for Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA), and the Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation.  Over 230 people attended the event, Saturday, May 12, at the Mora residence in Sugarloaf Country Club, in Duluth, Georgia, which replaced the annual golf tournament this year.

Inspired by the annual Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic VIP Party, The Super Seattle Send Off Benefit Bash featured the following:  an incredible dinner, courtesy of Stoney River Legendary Steakhouse; delectable desserts, courtesy of Caffé Stella; a rocking blues band, the Cazanovas; cigar rolling, courtesy of Cigartainment; mingling with special guests and celebrities; and Monte Carlo-style games.   There was also the opportunity to win a 2007 Ford Edge, courtesy of the Atlanta Area Ford Dealers.  The event also spotlighted special live and silent auction opportunities featuring unique sports memorabilia from legends like Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods, as well as special one-of-a-kind experiences and trips, including a 2008 Super Bowl trip to Arizona, a trip to the American Idol Finals and Results Show, and weekend trips to Las Vegas, Nevada and Miami, Florida.  In addition, one lucky attendee walked away with the big prize of the evening --  the Seattle Seahawks Spectacular Weekend – a trip for two to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, including airfare courtesy of AirTran Airways, hotel accommodations courtesy of the Westin Seattle, breakfast and dinner for two, two tickets to a Seahawks game and more. click here for more highlights...

“Thanks to the continued support and interest of our presenting sponsor, AirTran Airways, other sponsors, donors, attendees and friends, the Super Seattle Send Off Benefit Bash has helped bring our annual Foundation events total to over $820,000 in the last three years for children in need in Georgia,” said Shannon Mora, VP of the Foundation.  “We are touched by the ongoing support from the community, and look forward to continuing our efforts to support children in need in Georgia through events like this.”

The Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation will host its next fundraiser, the 4th Annual Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic, in the spring of 2008; please check the Foundation website for date and location later this summer.

2007 ESPN G.O.A.L Awards

Shannon Mora presented the second annual Jim Mora Volunteer Coach Award to Walter Lee of the Paulding County Boys & Girls Club.  Walter Lee was honored as the Coach of the Year at the annual ESPN G.O.A.L. Awards ceremony at ESPN Zone in Buckhead May 8, 2007 for his outstanding dedication and ongoing commitment to the Club. Mr. Lee was selected by a panel of local community leaders as this year’s winner, and received a check for the Paulding County club.  Lee also received an autographed Seahawks football by Coach Mora, who gave a quick address before Shannon presented the award, via tape, to the crowd on hand.

Jim and Shannon Mora visit the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter

Jim and Shannon Mora made a special visit to the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter to tour the new boys long-term home facility.  While there, they officially “dedicated” the room funded by the Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation with Gwinnett Children’s Shelter Executives – Nancy Friauf (Executive Director) and Susie Ryan (Development Director).

Friday, March 9, 2007 – Georgia High School Association State Basketball Tournament, Gwinnett Civic Center