The DJ Lagway Foundation hosted a kickoff dinner in March raising $50,000 to support UF Health community programs for local youth. The money will fund the UF Brain Injury, Rehabilitation and Neuroresilience (BRAIN) Center to provide essential resources for local youth. Those resources include concussion education outreach, community partnerships, parent‑ and coach‑advocacy tools and better sleep health.
“Where I’m from, there’s not a lot of education,” Lagway said during the check presentation in August at the Heavener Football Training Center. “It’s truly a blessing to have these resources in Gainesville while connecting with physicians and scientists to further education.”
Together, the BRAIN Center and the DJ Lagway Foundation launched “Making Headway with DJ Lagway,” a co‑branded initiative to empower underserved youth by expanding their knowledge of and protection for the brain. The project also addresses two child‑focused priorities in the Florida Brain Injury Action Plan: creating education and awareness for youth, parents and coaches about brain injury risks and recovery, and developing school reentry supports to help children transition after injury.
Lagway‑branded educational supplies will offer bilingual, culturally sensitive guides for parents to recognize concussion symptoms, develop sleep strategies and make informed nutrition choices that support recovery. The BRAIN Center will partner with youth sports leagues and community organizations across Florida to broaden the program’s reach and impact.
Michael Jaffee, M.D., FAAN, FANA, chair and professor of neurology at the University of Florida and director of the BRAIN Center, has delivered talks on sleep optimization for athletic performance to various organizations. His expertise encourages underserved children and parents to recognize the importance of sleep for overall health, athletic excellence and academic focus.
“We’re so grateful to DJ and his team for this incredible gift,” Jaffee said. “It will help us continue providing the highest level of care and advancing programs that make a real difference in our community.”
Parent‑ and coach‑advocacy tools will help parents ask the right questions at the right time. Sleep hygiene promotion will involve pairing BRAIN Center-branded rack cards with scientifically proven sleep tips tailored for young athletes. These tips emphasize the role of proper rest in faster recovery, enhancing focus and improving overall game day performance.
Lagway’s representation agency, NETWORK, also played a key role in launching the foundation’s kickoff dinner and bringing his vision to life.
“Working with DJ over the years, I’ve seen his genuine desire to help others,” said Justin J. Giangrande, CEO of NETWORK and Gator alumnus. “Charity is deeply rooted in the Lagway family history. It’s meaningful to support him in giving back to a place that is actively shaping his journey – a place that has played a big role in my life. We’re honored to help DJ invest in something that aligns with his values while pushing forward important conversations about brain health and youth development.”
The BRAIN Center will work with the North Central Florida chapter of the Society for Neuroscience to expand outreach during March Brain Awareness Week, emphasizing the performance, protection and recovery of youth brains. It will also partner with Brain Injury Florida, the state affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America, to distribute brain injury awareness materials statewide to K‑12 students.
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