Making Moves for Everyone Nov 2022

Pojo’s Gives Back

Great Kids Doing Great Things

Jared Benko- Not Just the Director of Athletics

Jared Benko

Pojo's Country Store is proud to partner with Roosevelt's Character Development Center and Roosevelt Cone Jr. Scholarship Foundation to assist with their goal of building character and self-esteem in underserved youth in Bulloch County. Children who participate in the character development center are taught valuable life skills and important ways to build good character, learn responsibility, and the importance of caring for your community. To

more about the foundation and development center, and offer your support, please

WHAT IS THE ROOSEVELT CONE, JR SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ABOUT?

How much time do you have?

In a nutshell, this foundation is all about helping our youth through mentoring, education, sports, and the arts. While mentoring and teaching good character is our main focus, this foundation allows us to help teach those same values through extracurricular activities. Such activities are vital to becoming a good citizen. Whether football, basketball, art, dance, or cheerleading, we believe that every young person should be able to participate in what interests them regardless of their social or financial status. Participating in organized activities enables our youth to learn good character and teamwork while having fun along the way!

This program allows us to help pay tuitions for programs, camps, or lessons as well as provide the required shoes needed in order to participate in these activities. Proceeds from other businesses owned by Roosevelt Cone, Jr. such as R&S Packing & Moving, Mr. Roosevelt’s Attic, and Statesboro Sports and Memorabilia help to fund this program. We also have local business owners and contributors that help make what we do possible.

We are recognized as a public charity and are exempt from federal income tax under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501 (c)(3). This program is free to local youth in the Bulloch County area ages 5-18.

If you would like to get involved, please contact us at 912-541-2809.

Jared Benko-He’s more than an Athletic Director, he’s a husband and a dad!

Jared grew up in Watkinsville, GA. He has one sister and one brother. He attended UGA for his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Since then, he has worked for the University of Georgia, the University of Arkansas, Auburn University, and Mississippi State University. Jared currently works for Georgia Southern University as the Athletic Director.

He and his family now call Statesboro home. One of the main things that Jared likes to do in his free time is grilling for his family! His wife, Sarah, grew up in North Atlanta. She attended Auburn University and graduated in 2005. She was an educator for 10 years and currently stays at home with her two boys, Hudson and Cooper. Nine-year-old Hudson is a 3rd grader at Bulloch Academy. He loves playing golf, baseball, basketball, and attending all GSU sports events! He also enjoys collecting baseball cards, fishing, and even cooking! Six-year-old Cooper is in the 1st grader at Bulloch Academy. He also shares a love of sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and anything GSU sports! Like most boys, both of them love to enjoy nature by playing outside! Both boys love spending time with their grandparents. They work hard to do well in school by studying hard. As a family, the Benkos love to travel and see new places. They love going to visit with family in their free time.

We are happy to have them as Statesboro residents and enjoy seeing them come into our sports shop! We wish them well in all their endeavors and look forward to what’s to come for all of them in the future! We would like to thank them for allowing us to share their story with all of you!

GREAT KIDS DOING GREAT THINGS!

Remember this name: Jordan Lovett

Jordan Lovett is a Senior at Statesboro High School. He is known for his dynamic football skills as running back for the team. Wearing number 7, many of us have definitely heard his name or number called this season! Not only is he an excellent running back and wide receiver, he is also an excellent student!

At 6’0 185lbs, this Senior football player has been receiving lots of “full ride” scholarship offers from different colleges. Some of the colleges that are interested in him are UMass, Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Tiffin, Southern Illinois, MTSU, Georgia Southern, Troy, The Citadel, Tennessee Tech, and Tulane, just to name a few.

It’s no wonder why these colleges are seeking his athletic ability to add to their teams. His stats speak for themselves!

While playing two positions, running back and wide receiver, mainly running back, Jordan has racked up 1,035 yards so far this season, with an average of 8.7 yards per carry out of 119 carries with 11 touch downs!

Jordan is the son of Matthew & Lisa Lovett, owners of Matthew H. Lovett & Son’s Funeral Home of Statesboro & Photography by Lisa Marie. He is also the nephew of another Statesboro football great, Justin Houston. There may be something in the genetics within this family!

We are so happy that Jordan’s parents have allowed us to share his story with you. Keep your eyes out for him and listen for his name. We know that Jordan is going to continue to do great things!

He’s a great kid doing great things!

Kenyan Evans and his twin sister Kenya, come to our center every day after school. We are so proud of Kenyan for making the All Star Football Team this year! Both of his sisters, Kenya and Kailsey cheered this year as well! We love spending time with them on a daily basis teaching them about good character and teamwork!