Clarence, NY

bike riding, rugby, reading, skiing

Dave Mathews Band, U2

Star Wars

3 Cups of Tea, The Alchemist

The Office (US), CNN, The Daily Show

"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country"

-John F. Kennedy

Jon Powers was born and raised in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, NY. He is a decorated Iraq War veteran, schoolteacher and nonprofit leader. Powers has deep roots in the Western New York community. He attended public schools, was an Eagle Scout, and joined the Army ROTC in pursuit of his education degree.
As an artillery platoon leader in the Army’s 1st Armored Division, Captain Powers patrolled one of Baghdad’s most volatile sectors. He witnessed firsthand the devastation and lost opportunities that resulted from the Bush Administration’s mismanagement and lack of planning for post-invasion Iraq.
When Powers returned home to Western New York he intended to become a full-time social studies teacher in the Clarence public schools. But, moved by his experience at war and driven to action, Powers sought to help those in Iraq whose voices are least heard - Iraqi children. He returned to Baghdad and founded War Kids Relief, a nonprofit organization aimed at assisting the youth of Iraq, providing them the resources and education needed to avoid recruitment by radical and terrorist organizations. War Kids Relief was quickly recognized for its pathbreaking work and was featured on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Willia and in a Newsweek cover story.

716.633.6068

Clarence, NY, 14221