Global Summit XVII sponsorship
Support the JES's mission of fostering dialogue for the Erie region on a global level.
Our audiences continue to show up to explore critical topics—from politics and global affairs to cutting-edge science, technology, sports, and more. And thanks to our sponsors, we’ve kept ticket prices unchanged since day one, ensuring that access to these powerful learning experiences remains open to all.
Last year, the 2024 Global Summit featured bold conversations on politics, sports, history, artificial intelligence, and social issues. It culminated in a landmark event: former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney in conversation with Erie’s own Sr. Joan Chittister—the largest event in JES history and the largest educational event ever held at the Bayfront Convention Center.
This year, we look forward to kicking off this year’s Global Summit with President Barack Obama. We will also host and welcome renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and community leader Jim Kelly, Vice President Mike Pence, and acclaimed historian Lindsay Chervinsky, plus many additional distinguished speakers who will engage and inspire audiences of all ages.
Whether you’ve sponsored the Global Summit before, supported other JES initiatives, or are considering a sponsorship for the first time, thank you for helping our community grow and thrive. Your support makes it possible for us to offer inclusive, high-quality programming that fosters civic engagement and civil dialogue—providing residents across Erie County with access to the ideas, conversations, and learning opportunities that matter most, especially in times when thoughtful public discourse is so urgently necessary.
If your organization is interested in becoming a Global Summit XVII sponsor, please contact Christine Gerlock by phone at 814-459-8000 or by email at gerlock@jeserie.org.
A Journey of Perseverance: An Evening with Jim Kelly
This Event has Been Sold out. Thank you Jeffersonians!
Jim Kelly is a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who spent his entire NFL career as a Buffalo Bill. His hallmarks as a player were his accurate passing and his toughness.
Kelly grew up in East Brady, a small town in Pennsylvania, in a household that emphasized the importance of hard work and treating others with respect. He signed with the Miami Hurricanes as a fourth-string quarterback but quickly worked his way up to a starting position before he faced a career-threatening injury. Not one to back down from a challenge, he pushed on and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1983.
He led the Buffalo Bills to an unprecedented four straight AFC championships, despite his toughness being tested time and time again. He is considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League and established the Buffalo Bills as one of the NFL's most successful and dangerous offenses.
After his retirement in 1997, not only did he lose his one and only son Hunter at the age of 8 to the disease Krabbe Leukodystrophy, Jim has also survived four battles with cancer. Kelly established an organization called Hunter's Hope Foundation to raise funds to fight the fatal disease that ended his son's life. He also runs an annual football camp for kids in which he and his NFL colleagues teach leadership, sportsmanship, responsibility, and the fundamentals of football. He is also the founder of the Kelly For Kids Foundation.
At this event, Kelly will tackle the power of the four F's – Faith, Family, Friends, and Fans and what it really means to make a difference. His story is "A Journey of Perseverance."
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Location: Gannon University, Yehl Ballroom, Waldron Campus Center, 628 Peach St, Erie, PA 16501
Admission:
- General Admission: $35
- Preferred Seating: $60 (Closest Section Near the Stage)
Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee
Parking: Gannon University parking garage on Peach Street.
This event is sold out. Thank you.
Jim Kelly is a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who spent his entire NFL career as a Buffalo Bill. His hallmark as a player was his toughness. From growing up in East Brady, a small town in Pennsylvania, to facing a career threatening injury in his college days, to leading the Buffalo Bills team to an unprecedented four straight AFC championships, Jim’s toughness has been tested time and time again. After his retirement, not only did he lose his one and only son Hunter at the age of 8, to a disease called Krabbe Leukodystrophy, Jim has also survived four battles with cancer. Jim speaks about the power of the four F’s – Faith, Family, Friends, and Fans and what it really means to make a difference. His story is “A Journey of Perseverance”.
