NFL great Herman Moore set many records as a wide receiver playing for the Detroit Lions in the 1990s. Today, he’s making an impact off the field as CEO of Team 84, which is involved in numerous businesses. And he’s making a point of giving back to the community.
Moore is teaming up with Johnson & Johnson to address health inequities among people of color in Detroit and other cities in a new contest called the Health Equity Innovation Challenge. It will award $1 million in all for ideas that help address that gap.
“Innovation is big with people in Detroit,” said Moore. “Pushing them and challenging them in this way will no doubt bring forth some incredible ideas. It’s a great program, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.”
Moore will serve as a judge for the Detroit entries.
Johnson & Johnson launched the challenge in September to seek ideas and innovations that have the potential to advance health equity. Entrepreneurs, innovators and community-based organizations in the Motor City, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia are invited to send in their ideas.
The challenge is part of Johnson & Johnson’s Our Race To Health Equity initiative to eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health threat by eliminating health inequities for people of color.
“At Johnson & Johnson, we are committed to combatting racism, in whatever form it takes,” said Seema Kumar, vice president of innovation, global health and policy communication at Johnson & Johnson.
“In partnership with the communities where we work and live, we will continue our aim to help find solutions that could lower barriers to health and equality.”
More: Metro Detroit concrete mogul Wayne Webber gave millions to schools, hospitals, DIA
The challenge is looking for ideas and solutions that could help prevent and treat illnesses that disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic communities, enhance equitable access to health care, stimulate diversity in science and advocate for more community-based health care.
(The challenge is open until Nov. 12. For more: www.jnj.com/health-equity-innovation-challenge).
Paying it forward
Moore is also founder of the Herman Moore Tackle Life Foundation, providing young people in Detroit with career choices and life-enriching opportunities.
“By offering guidance and entrepreneurship programs, we accelerate life skills, foundational structure, guidance and inspiration to seek careers, in not only sports, but other areas of personal interest,” he said.
“I like working with young people — both kids and young adults — because they’re still at an influential age where their mental confidence can be strengthened, which is why we create programs that expose them to natural career choices and life-enriching opportunities,” Moore added.
It’s all about paying it forward.
“My mother led by example by showing what resilience looked like — earning your way through life, responsibility and accountability,” he said. “My teachers taught me to always look beyond the walls, to challenge my self-worth, and to understand the importance of character. My coach taught me how to deal with adversity, to have good sportsmanship, and how to work with people from all dynamics in life toward a common goal.”
Moore is a serial entrepreneur, launching Team 84 in 2013 (84 was the number he wore on his Lions jersey and “Team” is part of the company name for that reason, too).
More: Air Force officer who survived breast cancer has a message for others: Be like Betty
“I came from a sport where most great things that were done have been from the assistance and collaboration of others,” Moore added.
He began in marketing and branding — something he knew about while protecting his own brand as an NFL superstar. He has a passion for developing new technologies and, most recently, has been involved in manufacturing, products and promotions.
Moore aims to help minority businesses grow as it helps the health of the entire region.
“One of the core focuses of our business is to support neighboring communities,” he said. “There has been an explosion of entrepreneurial-minded people, and we pride ourselves on being a bridge builder for and to help support those initiatives.”
Contact Carol Cain: 313-222-6732 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 8 a.m. Sundays on CBS 62. See Oakland University President Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz and Skillman Foundation’s President/CEO Angelique Power on this Sunday’s show.