If you missed our last blog post about Austin, we mentioned him training extremely hard for his first tournament. We wanted to take the time and show him some extreme love and support as he enters the final few days before he competes. Please go leave him some supporting comments on our Facebook and Twitter so we can build him up, any competitive event or tournament can be stressful especially if it is your first ever.
 
The match will be held on July 29th  at the Azusa Pacific University. We know Austin will do his best and we can’t wait to hear how the Youth American Open went
 
“We all put in extra training along side Austin to support him during the upcoming tournament” said his father.  With all focus being on training recently, Austin and the rest of the Ray Squad (his family) decided they need a little time to relax, have some fun and get in the right mindset so they headed to Oceanside Strand for some much deserved and overdue R&R.
 
Austin, Good luck! We know you will do amazingly.

We all have different strengths to share in the fight to provide opportunities and resources for kids from military families and getting them involved in sports and outdoor activities. Whatever your strength there is a way for you to help.
 
So how can you help us to support military families here in San Diego? What can you do to help our scholarship program? The answer is simple; we just need your support!
 
By following the Randy Jones Foundation on social media, spread the word about all our future events for military kids such as the VIP Padre games, deep see fishing trips and of coarse our Youth Scholarship Program.
 
RJF Facebook Page
RJF Twitter
RJF Instagram


Thank you for all your support!

Sienna being a passionate multi-athlete occasionally puts her in the situation where injuries may occur more so than other athletes. Sienna is constantly on the move whether she is running cross country, participating in track and field or swimming competitively. Recently she sustained an injury to her hip. The pain extended all the way from her hip to her knee.
 
Taking her role on both her swim team and in her relay team for track & field, she didn’t want to let her teams down. First at her CIF swim prelims she swam through the pain, managing to complete 3 of her 4 events ( the 100 backstroke, the 100 and 200 freestyle relay). She placed 2nd in her individual event and helped get her team 2 first place wins for the relays. Only days later did she have track & field finals, needless to say she pushed herself and earned her CIF patch for her letterman jacket as a result of the day. Although she pushed through the injury, she did what she could to heal, resting between events, icing when possible, physical therapy, acupuncture, x-rays and follow ups with orthopedics.
 
Sienna has proved to be a driven athlete and a trooper. Not many will brave the pain and swim/run full speed with an injury. She knew the extent she could push herself and chose not to swim in all her individual events, rather choosing to participate in the relays in order to not let her teammates down.
 
She is healing well and just attended the Summer Nike Track & Field Camp and Stanford University. There she learned a lot about her specific events ( 400m, 800m and the 4x400m relay) from many guest speakers including Olympic athletes. Nothing seems to come in-between Sienna and her training!

Fourth of July is a great holiday to spend quality family time, creating traditions or just relaxing and catching some fireworks. Some of the  typically traditions include: hanging American flags, going to parades, cook outs, block parties, and wearing red, white and blue. Although our scholarship recipients are anything but typical, check out what they were doing!
 
Austin and his family went to watch the fireworks all-together in Oceanside after hanging out and bbqing. Peyton and her family didn’t have anything planned for this year but typically they either watch the Harbor fireworks from the flight deck of her fathers ship or go out to Santee. Sienna and her family were taking it easy because she is participating in the Nike Track & Filed Camp at Stanford this coming weekend.
 
What were you plans? We’d love to hear what you did! Check us out on facebook and leave us a comment on what you and your family did for the holiday. Regardless of what you did, we hope you had a safe and fun filled day.
 
Thank you to all our scholarship recipient's parents (Tawanna, Joshua and Bryan) for taking the time to share with us. We are grateful for all that they are willing to share. Another big thank you to all the who serve and who have served our country.

Dedication, determination and passion; three amazing qualities that our young scholarship recipients all have in common. Last week we dove in deeper and told you more about Peyton, this week it’s all about Austin.
 
Austin started participating in Jiu Jitsu last year in May. For the past year he has been training extremely hard. Most weeks he takes classes 6 times a week on top of doing extra work with a personal trainer twice a week.
 
We were told Austin’s’ most amazing qualities are his memory and ability to learn so quickly. He is able to truly focus on the techniques and movements, which in Jiu Jitsu need to happen quickly.
 
We are excited to hear how Austin does during his first competition this coming month on the 29th in Azusa.  We will be sure to let you know how he does but we are expecting nothing but wonderful outcomes because of all his hard work, enthusiasm and want to be a good role model for his younger siblings. Thank you to his father who took the time to talk to us about all of this. We are looking forward to talking to his coach and trainer to learn even more to share with you!"

​Each of our scholarship winners work extremely hard both academically and athletically, they've had a lot of love and support from family, friends, teammates, coaches, and trainers. We are happy to be a part of the support now! We wanted you to get to know each of them a little more now so we went a step further and wanted to take the time to talk to some of those supporters, specifically the coaches and trainers.

Peyton Dowdy our softball player and pitcher has been involved in the sport more than we realized. She has been playing since tee ball, went on to AAU and is now playing on a travel team. Her former Coach and President of the Tierra Canyon Girls Fastpitch Softball, Zach Lemley shared with us that him and his wife and seen her grow so significatnyly and have been coaching her since tee ball. Zach has also even coached Peytons' little sister. But Peyton is a natural athlete and has one of the prettiest bating swings, she won't hit a home run or bunt and try to get to first, Peyton hits it in the perfect spot in the outfield and really moves runs.

Yes we know her as a pitcher but Zach continued on to tell us she's an easy id to coach and doesn't complain, if you put her in a different position, she knows her job and gets it done.

Her current coach, Antonio Zuniga, for the Factory Fastpitch has been coaching her about a year now and she keeps improving, she's continuing to grow and said "Give her another year to develop and she'll be outstanding". He's extremely happy with her performance especially coming off the injury she had about a month ago while she was practicing diving. Him, Peyton and the team are on their way to Utah in about 3 weeks to play in the Nationals Tournament. We'll be cheering them on from here and try to let you know about how it goes!

Antonio has been coaching for over 18 years and wants all his players to grow as athletes and individuals, but to make it the college level. Both Antonio and Zach said Peyton has what it takes, she's extremely intelligent and has expressed going to college already. She watches certain college teams already and has a few preferences but we can't tell you where just yet!"

If you have followed the Randy Jones Foundation for the past few years then you have seen some of the events that are organized to bring military children and their parents who have been recently deployed back together for something out of the ordinary and fun.
 
Last Wednesday, May 30th a group of military families attended the Padres game against the Miami Marlins. It was a day filled with family fun. All the military families in who were attending were told to meet at Petco Park. Families were also told where to park as well as where to meet.
 
Upon arrival, everyone was greeted by Randy, given a gift bad and walked through the tunnel directly onto the field. Getting the opportunity to be up close and personal while the players warmed up for the game. Of coarse tons of photos were taken and the kids got some autographs.
 
After some time on the field and some dinner, everyone made it to their seats and prepared for the game! The first few innings started slow until the Marlins scored two runs. However, the Padres made a come back and won the game!
 
Long story short, the day was a complete success from start to finish. Everyone enjoyed the game and some of the children had such a wonderful time that it as all they could talk about to their parents the next day!

​Things have been in full swing lately for Randy. A major curve ball was thrown back during Spring Training. 
 
Randy was helping the Padres with Spring Training back in March, and on the 10th day I guess you could say Randy had struck out and was dealing with pain shooting down his leg from his back. Turns out back prior to his throat cancer diagnosis, he was told he should have lower spine surgery. Learning about his throat cancer he had to reprioritize and take care of his throat. Being cancer free and the best he’s felt in about a year and a half,  he’s been able to take care of his lower back issue.
 
Randy had lower back surgery and is recovery quickly. He may have a 7 inch scar now but he is pain FREE. Part of the procedure included shaving some of his bone so his nerves aren’t pinched. His goal is to be back playing golf in July and as a reward for getting through all of this he is planning on going to Callaway and purchasing some new clubs and having the custom fitted.
 
When asked about the Foundation, Randy shared that he’s excited about the Youth Athletic scholarship recipients, bringing more military families to the Padres games and fishing trips.

The 5th Annual Randy Jones Invitational Semi Finals has come and gone, as well as the 50th event for the Randy Jones Invitational and in comparison to last year we couldn't have asked for better weather, it was beautiful. With beautiful weather comes some very low scores.While we are preparing for the Finals, we got a chance to chat with the Tournament Director from Woods Valley Golf Club, Annelise, who has been a huge part in every single day of the Invitational for the past 2 years!


Out of 7,000 contestants, Ryan LaFone was the first to sink two puts in a row for the semi finals putting contest and two teams shot 55 in the semi finals and several teams broke 60. 

Woods Valley, Annelise and her staff were proud to be apart of the largest charity golf tournament series and wanted to send a thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work!

Everyone here at the Randy Jones Foundation would also like to extend a thank you to Annelise, Woods Valley Golf Club, the staff, all the volunteers and of course the players for their time and effort! It's always a pleasure putting on the Invitational and watching all those out on the course.

If you haven't checked out the scores they have been posted for every day of the Semi Finals and Finals, the Putting Contest and the Hole in One Contest. Check out the scores and share your photos with us! Use the hashtag #RandyJonesInvitational and tag us @RandyJonesFoundation.

 We're already extremely excited for next year!