By Ed Martin, Editor
No. 33 Jayden Evangelo with mom Brandy and dad J.D. Evangelo, brother Jax at far left and Tiger Coach Rich Tuman.
No. 33 Jayden Evangelo with mom Brandy and dad J.D. Evangelo, brother Jax at far left and Tiger Coach Rich Tuman.
Photo by Bill Burris

Lemoore High School senior Jayden Evangelo, a placekicker for the Tigers varsity football team, has undoubtedly been a significant factor in the Tigers’ early season success. Lemoore has won its first two games by wide margins, and the second-year varsity kicker has undoubtedly played a significant role in that success.

After racking up 134 points in their first two games, the Tigers are setting team records, and Evangelo has certainly contributed to the Tigers’ offensive prowess this season.

As a second-year varsity kicker, Evangelo has become a key ingredient in the Tigers’ offensive might. As a senior, the talented kicker has booted 24 extra points and a pair of field goals in the school’s first two games.

The talented athlete, the son of Brandy and J.D. Evangelo, both former Lemoore High School Tigers, is doing more than contributing to what looks to be an outstanding season for the Tigers. He’s also giving back to others who aren’t able to play football and kick extra points.

Evangelo, who wears jersey no. 33, has dedicated this season to children battling cancer.

To improve his skills, Evangelo attended the prestigious Kohls Invitational Scholarship Kicking Camp in Tennessee in July. The talented senior learned about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer between booting field goals, extra points, and kickoffs.

“I went to a camp at Paso Robles and then invited me to a scholarship camp in Gatlinburg, Tennessee,” he told The Leader. “It was good. They did a really excellent job. It was actually a lot of fun.” 

Tiger football kicker Jayden Evangelo, a big role player on team, plays another important role in helping fight cancer

What was it about the camp and Alex that got him motivated to raise money for cancer? “I saw this and thought I needed to do something.” He cited a friend who just this year was diagnosed with cancer. “She’s at Lemoore High School now,” he said. 

“That was my main motivational factor,” said the 16-year-old Jayden. Jayden. 

According to Evangelo, Alex was four years old when she started a lemonade stand in her front yard to help raise money for children battling cancer. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was just a year old. By the time Alex was eight, she had raised $1 million and inspired a legacy.

Unfortunately, Alex passed away that same year.

A former Kohl’s kicker, who had attended many football camps, heard about Alex’s story and started the Kick-It campaign to raise money for cancer research.

“My son Jayden is dedicating his football season to help children battling cancer,” said Jayden’s mother, Brandy. “He is turning his points into donations to help fund research and provide much-needed treatments to children.”

Jayden is certainly hoping he’s successful, and so far, his goal was to kick at least 30 extra points and raise $1,000. He has racked up 24 extra points and has raised $1,591 in just two games.

“He has helped fund 32 hours of research. He has raised his goal to $2,500 and hopes he will continue to receive donations,” said Brandy Evangelo.

Tiger football kicker Jayden Evangelo, a big role player on team, plays another important role in helping fight cancer

How to donate

https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/2946863

(He has his fundraising page at www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/2946863. Donors have two options. A donor can make a flat donation, or he/she can do a pledge and put in an amount per point he kicks during the season).