Henri Crockett (´96) is no stranger to wins. A member of the Florida State Seminoles 1993 NCAA Division I Football National Championship team, Crockett would go on to win five back-to-back ACC championships with the garnet and gold. After graduation, both he and his brother, Zack (´94), went on to enjoy fruitful NFL careers. Although their on-the-field activities reigned supreme, Henri and Zack never lost sight of one other shared passion—their community.
“We both earned full scholarships to Florida State but chose the school for its proximity to Broward County and our mother,” shared Henri. “When we joined the NFL, we did so with love for our community in our hearts and a strong desire to make an imprint on the lives of others.”
It’s no surprise, then, that The Crockett Foundation was formed in 2002 with the mission to help build character, develop leaders and improve communities one child at a time. In addition to after-school enrichment, the program now provides health, technology and youth development programming year-round to over 5,000 Broward County community members. As the foundation grew, so did the opportunity to expand its reach and impact. Recently, The Crockett Foundation gifted $30,000 to establish The Crockett Family Fund for Excellence, a scholarship endowment for deserving undergraduate or graduate students at the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
“While I had the advantage of having a scholarship, I remained aware that many did not and were forced to go into debt and make tough sacrifices to carve a path to graduation,” said Henri. “My aim is to reduce their obstacles by lightening the financial burden for the youth and their families.”
For Henri, providing scholarships to these worthy students also carries a more personal meaning. “My life experiences have taught me that we all need help at some time during the journey,” he shared. “That’s why at several points along the way, I have chosen to ‘send the elevator back down’ to usher new Florida State students who look like me into their own chosen path. There is so much already stacked against minority youth. Our goal is to improve their college experience, and ultimately, their quality of life upon graduation.”
Furthermore, scholarship recipients will enjoy the added benefit of mentorship that Henri often supplies. “I am committed to forging a relationship with each [student] with the goal to cheer them on as they grow their potential, inspire them to connect with the youth served by The Crockett Foundation and offer them a platform to create their own ‘pay it forward’ opportunities.”
The Crockett Foundation has also committed an additional $50,000 to the fund, creating even more opportunities for Florida State students. By creating scholarships and instilling in each recipient the passion for giving back makes for a truly win-win scenario for Henri.
Learn more about the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice and how you may support its students.