Jerome C. Garner founded the non-profit organization T.O.U.C.H. in 1988 to expose youth to positive role models and educational experiences. Since then, T.O.U.C.H. has brought hundreds of notable personalities like Joseph Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Judge Lynn Toler to speak to Cleveland area youth about topics such as self-esteem, education, and career opportunities. Garner continues to lead T.O.U.C.H. in its mission of using high-profile individuals and experiences to inspire and motivate youth.

1. Who is Jerome C. Garner
Executive Director Jerome C. Garner founded T.O.U.C.H., INC. (Tal-
ent Outreach for Underprivileged Career Hunters) in 1988. This orga-
nization has been responsible over the years for exposing hundreds of
young people to quality educational experiences and notable person-
alities which have enriched their lives and the positive experience base
that we all need to function effectively in society. Mr. Garner has, from
the beginning to now utilized effective networking, his own funds and
ingenuity to make T.O.U.C.H effectively reach youth. Mr. Garner has been able to accomplish this while
other youth efforts have come and gone because of his commitment to youth and because of a mult-
faceted professional career that has included quality concert promotions locally and regionally, many years as an entrepreneur of a
retail men’s and women’s clothing store and continuing that pursuit with his current clothing enterprise “www.shopjerrygee.com”.
Conjunctively with T.O.U.CH., Mr. Garner successfully produced and promoted one of, if not the first concert at the then newly built
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum i.e. The Midwest Talent Showcase in the early nineties.
Mr. Garner continues to this very day the serious effort to reach our children primarily with T.O.U.C.H. and it’s media component, Edu-
tainment T.V. continually striving to expose youth to High Profile Role Models that DO help to show our youth the way. T.O.U.C.H. was
incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Ohio in April 1988. It received IRS 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status
in April 1992. It was established for the express purpose of mobilizing and utilizing resources to assist young people in reaching their
career goals by helping them to develop a positive self-concept and opening the doors of opportunity. T.O.U.C.H. accomplishes its
mission by recruiting celebrities, professionals, athletes, and politicians to act as role models and educators. Additionally, T.O.U.C.H. is
dedicated to helping curtail violence, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy. T.O.U.C.H. strives to provide underprivileged young people
with career opportunities by acting as a liaison between them and potential employers and entertainment agencies. T.O.U.C.H.
recruits positive role models that do encourage young people to reach their fullest potential by acting as speakers, trainers, and
:T.O.U.C.H. is always diligently at work for your children and their children, striving to provide new and innovative ways to increase the
opportunities of young people throughout our community.
The Strategy Jerome C Garner,TOUCH and Edu-Tainment TV Utilize
The entire strategy for all activities Mr. Garner has spearheaded are based on four basic principles:
l To provide young people with positive, high profile role models
l To inspire and motivate young adults toward effective changes and productive life-styles
..
l To give guidance and insight on career decisions facing young people in an increasingly complex
society
l To construct and establish a network of support for the leaders of tomorrow.
We know that following these Basic principles continues to guide us in developing programs for our youth that are interesting, relevant, and inspirational.
Why Use High Profile People
A Partial List of Jerome C. Garner &
T.O.U.C.H Activities Over The Years Includes: T.O.U.C.H. has always recognized that high profile role models
have much less difficulty overcoming communication barriers
Workshops emphasizing: when dealing with youth. The status of the role models recruited
by our organization capture our audience’s attention and help
Benefits of Education to motivate and inspire them to seek positive alternatives.
l
Self-Awareness
l
Since its inception, T.O.U.C.H. has served hundreds of youth and
Self-Esteem
l
young adults in the Greater Cleveland area. Ranging from 12 to
Music Careers
l 30 years old, these young people come from the city and east-
General Entertainment
l ern suburbs with a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.
Professional Careers
l T.O.U.C.H. has established alliances with colleges and universi-
Vocational Careers
l ties, professional associations, youth groups, employment and
training agencies, and other organizations and businesses inter-
Athletic Careers
l
ested in reaching young people with positive messages of hope
Drug prevention
l
and inspiration.
Responsible sexuality
l
Resume writing
l T.O.U.C.H. has been operating on a voluntary basis since 1988.
No grants have been applied for or received. With an overwhelm-
T.O.U.C.H. has conducted: ing need for positive and constructive activities for young people,
we have elected to seek outside support to help us expand our
l Field Trips To The Ohio State Capital with
reach into he community. Young people, the most vulnerable to
Chief Justice Thomas Moyer and Other State Officials
negative influences, are also the most receptive to change.
l Talent Shows
l Career Expo
FINALLY... WHAT DO ...
The Jackson Family Patriarch Mr. Joseph Jackson, Entertainers Marlon Jackson, Gerald Levert,
Jackson, Jackson, Levert,
National Radio Personality Tom Joyner, Professional Boxer Tommy “Hit Man “ Hernes, Ohio Secre-
Joyner, Hernes,
tary Of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, Former
Blackwell, Moyer,
Ohio Lt. Governor Maureen O'Connor, Cuyahoga County Commisioner Peter Lawson Jones,Jones,
common???...
T.V. Personality Mother Love and many more have in common???...
THEY HAVE ALL SERVED AS ROLE MODELS WITH Jerome C. Garner and
Jerome Christian Garner
T.O.U.C.H actively seeks your support.
To be considered as a guest speaker, Executive Director, T.O.U.C.H., Inc.
role model, mentor, or if you would like 854 Nela View Rd. Suite 200 Cleveland Hts., Ohio 44112
to volunteer in any other way, please Phone 216/268-1817
contact: E-Mail: touchonline@yahoo.com

2. T.O.U.C.H.
featured on the
Front Page of
the February 10,
2000 Call & Post
Newspaper

3. For Talent
Outreach for
Immediate Release Under Privileged
Career
For Information . . Call
Hunters
216 / 268-1817
Jerome Christian Garner
Ex. Dir. T.O.U.C.H., Inc.
or 216 / 382-0048
Steven E. Boyd & Assoc., Inc
T.O.U.C.H. BROUGHT OHIO'S OWN
quot;POWER OF ATTORNEY JUDGE LYNN C. TOLER
TO SHAW HIGH SCHOOL TO SPEAK TO
STUDENTS ON SELF-ESTEEM, THE VALUE
OF EDUCATION & SELF-DISCIPLINE
CLEVELAND, OHIO -- October 22, 2001 -- We are all concerned.
Cleveland native and Nationally Televised POWER OF ATTORNEY Judge Lynn C. Toler, will speak with students
and administrators at Shaw High School, 15320 Euclid Ave., 9:00 a.m. in the school auditorium on October 30th.
There will also be a media reception immediately afterward in the Korb Lounge in the rear of the school on
Terrance Ave at 10:00am.
Judge Toler's visit is at the invitation of Mr. Jerome Christian Garner, Executive Director of the nine year old youth
organization, T.O.U.C.H. This organization has been one of Cleveland's best kept secrets, having exposed
hundreds of Cleveland area youth to positive role models and positive experiences for years.
These experiences will give Cleveland area youth and parents an opportunity to hear helpful advice during these
troubling times for our youth.
One of Ohio’s most respected jurists, Judge Lynn C. Toler’s experience brings her to the legal drama of “Power of Attorney.” As the new
judge of last season’s top rated syndicated series, Toler will preside over some of the nation’s most recognizable attorneys. She will share the
stage with such legal notables as Marcia Clark, Christopher Darden and Gloria Allred, among others. Judge Toler will make legally
binding decisions after hearing attorneys’ arguments on behalf of litigants in a variety of civil cases. As a sitting Municipal Court Judge in
the Cleveland Heights area of Ohio, Judge Toler hands down justice with a lesson attached. She presides over criminal, civil, housing and
traffic court, and for three years Judge Toler handled the largest municipal court docket in a single judge court. Her approach as judge has
been to communicate and educate defendants that come before her, rather than just lay a fine and assign jail time. This approach has made
her one of the most popular judges among her judicial colleagues. After being
convinced to run for the bench, Toler launched a grass-roots campaign and beat out
a field of nine to win the public office of Municipal Court Judge. “My colleagues
have described me as independent, gracious and passionate,” Toler states. “Those
qualities are what I feel make me suitable to preside over the 'Power of Attorney’
courtroom.”
Judge Toler is a member in a number of civic and professional associations. Most
notably she served on the board of trustees for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and
serves on the National Counsel of Negro Women. She has been a commencement and
keynote speaker to many groups and universities. Judge Toler is a graduate of
Harvard University and received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania
Law School. She is a member in good standing with the Bar Admissions of the Ohio
Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Supreme
Court of the United States.