My name is Leslie McCurdy, and after spending the past 20 years in public accounting – supporting clients and navigating various financial challenges – I made the decision to step away from traditional practice and pursue something bigger and far more personal. 

Over the years, I’ve watched family, friends, and colleagues be impacted by mental health challenges.  Those experiences opened my eyes to how many lives could be changed, or even saved, with the right support and connection.  What began as a quiet personal realization has grown into a responsibility I feel honored to carry forward.

Today, I’m channeling my background in finance, problem-solving, and relationship building into a mission-driven role as the Director of Finance for the Jae Foundation, Jae’s Place, and the Boot-Check Sports Ranch.  This work feels meaningful, necessary, and fully aligned with the impact I want to have in the world.

At the bottom of my emails, you will see the phrase, “Every dollar is a chance to create hope and a future.”  For me, this isn’t just a tagline. It’s a guiding principle. After two decades in public accounting, I’ve learned that every financial decision, big or small, carries weight. But now, in this new chapter, that weight feels even more purposeful. Each dollar represents an opportunity to extend compassion, support life-changing work, and open doors for individuals and families who need it most.

This reminder keeps me focused on why I made this transition: to ensure that the resources entrusted to us are used with care, integrity, and purpose, and to help create the kind of the future where people genuinely care about one another and take the time to check in. Our mission is to create Boot-Check Moments– small, intentional acts of connection that can change the trajectory of someone’s day, or even their life.

We know we will never be able to raise enough money or hire enough trained professionals to cure all mental health challenges. The need is too great, and the struggle is too widespread. So instead, we focus on enlisting you. Because the truth is, every one of us has the power to make a meaningful impact.

Author Simon Sinek suggests that it only takes eight minutes to feel connected.  Do you have eight minutes to let someone know they are loved, valued, needed and wanted here?  That’s what Boot-Check Moments are all about.

If we can slow down and take a few moments each day to check in on someone we know—really check in—we can change the world. Not through grand gestures, but through consistent, compassionate presence. Together, we can build a culture where no one feels invisible, burdens are shared, and hope is created through everyday moments of genuine care. 

Our platform may be simple – a pair of cowboy boots we call Jae Boots– but the mission is bold, and it’s catching fire.  Last month at our boys’ Battle for the Boot tournament, we welcomed players and coaches from 30 states and 28 countries.  They came through the Jae Foundation and received their Jae Boots.  As those players and coaches returned home across the world, they didn’t just carry boots in their bags. They carried conversations, commitments, and an awareness back to their families, teammates, and communities. They shared their experience with loved ones, creating ripples of connection far beyond the tournament.

A mom from Alabama emailed us after the tournament and shared this about her son:

“He is a quiet kid who has endured some hard times, even some mental health struggles, so when he called me, he was just amazed about Jae’s story, the group of people who bring this message, and the generosity of this foundation. And, if it had a great impact on my son, then it has a great impact on me.”

That’s how a movement grows: not through one large event, but through thousands of small conversations that follow. I am proud to be part of an organization that believes in the power of those moments and even prouder of the people who carry them home. Together, we are building a future where no one walks alone.

If I could issue you a challenge this week, it would be to choose one person to check in on.  Give them your eight minutes.

I’m grateful to be on this journey with you.  It’s Boot-Check Time!