When Plano students returned to class last month, around 200 came with school supplies thanks to the work of Jaxson Turner. For the fifth year in a row, the Prestonwood Academy sophomore coordinated a back-to-school project to help those in need. It’s a cause that is near and dear to his heart.
“I saw classmates that were embarrassed because their parents couldn’t afford school supplies,” he says. “I wanted to do something for them.”
For five consecutive Saturdays in July, Jaxson once again endured sweltering heat as he sold lemonade outside Elite Kutz barbershop on Custer Road. This year he had three flavors. Mango peach was the favorite. The money raised was used to help purchase backpacks and school supplies for area students.
Jaxson is quick to point out that the fundraiser took much more than just him.
“I wouldn’t be anything without my family, friends and people in the community helping me complete these projects,” he says.
The Assistance Center of Collin County helped spread the word about his project. Local nonprofit At the Heart of It purchased 75 backpacks as well as high-end calculators for high schoolers. Rosemeade Dental provided new toothbrushes and toothpaste as well as a monetary donation.
When it came time to fill and distribute the backpacks, Plano Mayor John Muns and his wife, Joa, jumped in to help. Members of the Plano Police Department and Plano West Rotary Club volunteered as well, while Jason’s Deli provided meals.
If there is one message Jaxson could give to others his age, he says it would be that no one is ever too young to care. That just so happens to be the name of the nonprofit he established: Never 2 Young 2 Care charity or N2Y2C.
His work has started to get him more attention. Jaxson has now been profiled by multiple media outlets. Last December, he appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show via Skype after McKinney Mayor George Fuller submitted a letter to the show about the work he had been doing.
“I just feel like I’m absolutely blessed that God has put me on such an amazing path and so many people have joined along that path and supported me ever since,” Jaxson says.
His mom, LaKeicee Turner-Sazy, says she sometimes can’t believe it herself. The proud mom works as a private rideshare driver for clients heading to the airport. Oftentimes she finds herself bragging about her son.
“They probably think I’m making this up,” she jokes.
This school year, Jaxson plans to try out for golf. After taking a short break, he will soon begin working on his next philanthropic project. This time he hope to do something to help homeless kids through the Samaritan Inn in McKinney.
With high school graduation looming in two years, he’s also thinking about applying to Harvard University, where he would like to study law. School officials will no doubt be impressed with the work he’s done. It’s a resume few of his peers can match.
