SELMA, AL (October 27, 2026) — The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) proudly announces Ms. Timika Jackson as the winner of its 2026 Throw & Go Contest, an annual football-themed fundraiser that brings Alabama’s passion for the game together with a commitment to strengthening communities across the Black Belt.

Created by the BBCF Community Associates and BBCF Community Engagement Team, the Throw & Go Contest raises funds for the Foundation’s Community Grants Program, which supports community-led organizations and initiatives throughout BBCF’s 12-county service area.

This year’s contest offered participants the opportunity to win a chance to complete a skills challenge, resulting with the award of two tickets to the 2026 Magic City Classic, featuring Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, along with a two-night hotel stay in downtown Birmingham, AL at the historic Tutwiler Hotel. The contest’s signature challenge involves completing a 12-yard forward pass to a designated BBCF staff member, with each yard representing one of the 12 counties served by the Foundation. Timika, a native of Tuskegee who currently lives in Auburn, easily completed her pass to BBCF’s President & CEO Christopher Spencer with BBCF’s Co-Community Engagement Director Wendell H. Paris, Jr. and other BBCF staff members as witnesses to her successful completion of the contest requirement. BBCF published videos of Timika’s initial name being drawn to qualify for the skills contest as well as a fun video of her completion of the pass to President Spencer. These videos can be found here:

Drawing: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1881945783175820

Skills Contest Pass Completion:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1455872749857527

Beyond the excitement of the competition, Throw & Go reflects BBCF’s mission of bringing together community members and supporters to generate resources that help local communities address their needs and build a stronger future.

“Throw & Go is a wonderful example of how grassroots community participation, generosity and a little friendly competition between our different Community Associates groups across our 12 service counties can make a meaningful difference,” said Christopher H. Spencer, BBCF President and CEO. “We congratulate Ms. Jackson and thank everyone who participated in this year’s contest and helped support our work across Alabama’s Black Belt.”

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Selma, BBCF works to build healthy, prosperous, inclusive, educated, creative and giving communities across Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox counties.

For more information about the Black Belt Community Foundation and its community impact, visit blackbeltfound.org.

The Black Belt Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing resources, strengthening community leadership and supporting locally driven solutions throughout its 12-county service region of the Alabama Black Belt. Its mission is to help residents build on their existing strengths and resources to create the communities they need and deserve.