Child’s Play

To any parent, one of the most taunting tasks is trying to get kids involved. Jacqueline Gross-Kellogg, committee and board member of several Key Biscayne organizations as well as President of the Key Biscayne Athletic Club, is involved in many more ways than one. For her, it’s essential to make sure she and all of Key Biscayne’s children have opportunities to be active, healthy, smart and well-rounded. “We have a lot of talented people in Key Biscayne,” she says. “We should always strive to facilitate and grow that when possible.”
It’s a full plate for Gross-Kellogg. She runs the Key Biscayne Athletic Club, which provides organized recreational activities for the children of Key Biscayne and has 750 annual child participants. She also serves as committee/board member for Key Biscayne Youth Athletics Advisory Board, Key Biscayne Soccer Club and the Reclamation Project, an eco-art initiative associated with the Miami Science Museum aimed at educating and engaging South Floridians in reforesting coastal and urban areas. What’s more, she also takes part in the Parent-Teacher Association at the Key Biscayne K-8 Center and serves as Service Unit Leader for the Girl Scouts. She may be very involved, but she chose each organization for a reason. “Most of the organizations I’m involved with are for children’s growth and development, and they’re always willing to accept more help,” she says.
Even the most involved person needs a few rules to live by. For Gross-Kellogg, it’s pretty simple: It’s about preparation and knowing what you’re doing. “I don’t become a leader of an organization until I have experienced it first,” she says. “This kind of energy makes meetings fun and challenging, and I get excited about making a difference.” Of course, she takes a bit of advice from the Scouts. “Be prepared. Don’t wing it, because people can tell, especially kids,” she says. “And if I can’t commit to something with full mental and physical energy, I won’t do it.”
Though it’s a lot of hard work, being involved yields its own rewards for Gross-Kellogg. “Sometimes it’s hard to see the benefit when you’re still in the trenches, but I do treasure working with my family,” she says. “I appreciate the feedback I get from the community and I love when I feel responsible for helping a kid to try a sport, eat fresh kale or know why mangrove trees are important.”