About Jim

Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
Hometown Chapter: Tennessee Valley Toms.
NWTF Involvement: Jim has been an NWTF member since the late '70s. He served as president of the Tennessee Valley Toms for 14 years and on the Alabama State Board of Directors for the past 10 years. He was the first JAKES outreach coordinator for Alabama.
Special Information: Jim and his wife of 47 years, Karen, have two children, Stephen and Scott, and four grandchildren.

Q&A with Jim Profozich

Jim joined the NWTF in the organization's infancy and has kept his volunteer spirit fresh through the JAKES program.

NWTF: Jim, what made you want to be an NWTF member all these years?

Jim Profozich: I just love what the NWTF does, that's why I've stuck around. I'm a big believer in the JAKES outreach program — I fight particularly hard for it. And I believe in putting as much money as we can on the ground.

NWTF: How many participants do you have at your JAKES events?

JP: We have had 3,000-plus youth attend our 10 JAKES events. The Tennessee Valley Toms Chapter has won the best JAKES event in the nation five times — every time I've submitted the paperwork. I believe our chapter has made a tremendous impact on the children in our community.

NWTF: What contributes to your chapter's success at hosting JAKES events?

JP: We have outstanding volunteer support. Now that our event is so big, we have three other area chapters help us host it, which has given us more manpower, funds and volunteers. It's remarkable.

NWTF: Why are you such a passionate supporter of the JAKES program?

JP: Oh my goodness, they're our future! I talked to a mother who brought her son to our JAKES event because she saw a poster about it at Wal-Mart. Her son came running up to her and showed her all the holes he put in a target. Then he won the JAKES shotgun, and his mother was in the back of the room sobbing. I'll go to my grave remembering that moment, and that's what the JAKES program is all about.

NWTF: What does it mean to you to know that you have impacted the lives of so many children in your community?

JP: I'm just a common old retired GI, and in addition to my children and grandchildren, this is like a legacy for me. I'm leaving something meaningful behind.

When I retired in 2000, I decided it was time to give something back since God has been so good to me. I love turkey hunting. I love children, and I wanted to make a positive impact on children's lives. So being involved with the JAKES program was a no brainer for me. I just love what the NWTF does, and that's why I've stayed so involved with it. — Melanie Swearingen