met Israel Idonije in 2009 through
one of our FLM contributors Daphne
Ortiz. Daphne was helping Israel, who
is affectionately known as “Izzy” with PR initiatives surrounding a humanitarian focused project in West Africa where the Israel Idonije Foundation led an annual medical and community-building mission to impoverished communities. The plan was for me to highlight the work Izzy was doing not only in Africa, but also in Chicago and Winnipeg Canada where his foundation also headed up an annual All-Star Football and Cheerleading Camp attracting more than 350 kids from underprivileged neighborhoods each year. Unfortunately, our conflicting schedules didn’t allow us to immediately connect, and a few months went by before I had an epiphany for a TV show concept merging food and sports. The working title of the show was called Game Time Dine, and the concept was to dine with professional athletes at local Chicago restaurants and allow them to cook with the chef, taste, and critique cuisine in a fun-filled atmosphere. I immediately called Daphne to pitch her the idea and she loved it. She in turn pitched it to Izzy and he agreed to shoot a pilot for the show. It was during that 3-hour filming of the pilot that I knew Israel Idonije was a different dude. A different athlete. A different human, in an exceptional way. And it turns out I was right.
I grew up as an athlete having played Division 1 college football and professionally in the Arena Football League, and I’ve always had interactions with athletes on all levels since my playing days ended. One of the raps that have been cast on athletes, and particularly black athletes, is that they don’t set themselves up for success for life after sports, whether it’s after college or professional. And from the many stories that have been shared over the years, statistics have proven that there’s some truth to that. However, Izzy being that different dude, was not going to be a statistic and recognized early on in his career that he needed to look towards life after football. One of his first companies was Blessed Communion, a company providing a sanitary, convenient way to prepare and receive Communion. Although there had been highs and lows like any other business, fifteen years later they’re thriving. Most recently he launched Impact House, a 40,000 square-foot work club specifically for the city's Funders and Changemakers and is involved in many hospitality projects including his newest restaurant Signature, an upscale sports bar that provides an elevated experience in both food and atmosphere.
Izzy gets it. Although I couldn’t compensate him during the first season of Game Time Dine, he still agreed to shoot 10 episodes as my co-host on the show. He arrived on time during tapings, stayed later than he needed too, and brought along some of his teammates to tape a few episodes. Never did he once complain. Most professional athletes won’t show up for anything for free, let alone on their only off day during the week. And Izzy did. That showed me that he saw a bigger picture and opportunity, and I consider that leadership.
Israel is the quintessential leader. Quintessential leadership embodies the epitome of effective and inspirational qualities. It goes beyond the management of tasks and encompasses vision, integrity, empathy, and the ability to inspire and motivate others towards a shared goal. A quintessential leader leads by example, displays dedication, humility, and a commitment to their principles. They possess exceptional communication skills, foster open dialogue and cultivate a culture of trust and collaboration within their team. They demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges, view setbacks as opportunities. Quintessential leadership is not defined solely by a title or position but by the impact they have on their followers and the legacy they leave behind. This is Israel Idonije.
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