Fred Pearson Foundation - Mission
The FPF is an IRS designated 501(c)3 charitable foundation with the goal of honoring the positive impact that Fred Pearson had in the lives of the youth in the Centralia area.
The mission of the foundation is to provide the youth of the Centralia area an opportunity to participate in local athletic programs.
FPF also strives to provide character development experiences to help area youth reach their full potential as productive and responsible citizens.
FPF Goals
Our mission states that we want to provide the youth of the Centralia area an opportunity to participate in athletic programs and offer experiences that will provide athletic instruction along with a charter development message.
To accomplish our mission, we have established the following goals:
- Offer a free annual sports clinic in Centralia to teach fundamentals.
- Assist with fees for Centralia youth to participate in local athletic programs and camps
- Provide Centralia Youth with sports equipment to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience
Annual FPF Basketball Clinic
The Fred Pearson Foundation held it’s annual “free” basketball clinic at the Centralia Junior High. There were 15 instructors, including current and past Orphan & Annies. Over 60 youth showed up for the two sessions and everyone had a great time. Please take a moment to view the pictures from all of our basketball clinics.
Fred Pearson & Howard Cooksey Honored with Street Dedication
Mayor Tom Ashby dedicated Walnut Street as “Howard Cooksey/Fred Pearson Way” and April 21st, 2012 as “Fred Pearson and Howard Cooksey Day”. Friends and family braved the cool weather for the unveiling and then proceeded to a luncheon at New Bethel Baptist Church, where a number of stories were shared with over 70 guests.
Quotes from the day:
"a great one-two punch for the youth of Centralia"
"the pair established one of the finest recreation programs that the state of Illinois has ever known"
"growing up as a young man, I considered Fred as my second father"
"many young men became what they are today because of the influence Fred had on their lives"
"Fred was like a brother to me"