WE CAN'T WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J. DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS LONG BEEN A GIVING COMMUNITY, WITH MANY RESIDENTS OFFERING THEIR TIME, TALENTS OR TREASURE TO VARIOUS NEEDS AND CAUSES.

ONE SYRACUSE MAN SAW A GREAT NEED IN HIS HOMETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD FOLLOWING YEARS OF DECLINE SINCE HE LAST WALKED THOSE STREETS.

CHEDY HAMPSON GREW UP IN SYRACUSE'S SOUTH SIDE - AN AREA LACKING MANY AMENITIES BUT PROVIDING ENOUGH ACTIVITIES TO OFFER HIM ENCOURAGEMENT.

WHILE ACTIVE IN BASEBALL, HE ALSO HAD AN AFFINITY FOR ONLINE GAMING - AN INTEREST WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO HIS ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE MARKETING COMPANY.

THAT COMPANY, TCG PLAYER, SAW TREMENDOUS GROWTH OVER THE YEARS - SO MUCH SO IT WAS ACQUIRED BY EBAY FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

PROCEEDS FROM THE BUYOUT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO EMPLOYEES AND TO CHEDY - BUT HE WASN'T ABOUT TO JUST CASH IN AND RETIRE - HE'S NOW ON A MISSION TO REVITALIZE HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

OUR DANIEL PLUFF JOINED CHEDY AT ONA JAVA - A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUSE AND A SIGN OF EARLY PROGRESS .

SO BEYOND THE SALE, AND BEYOND THE COMPANY AND I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE CLICHE TO SAY WELL MAYBE YOU WENT BACK TO YOUR ROOTS, STOW SPEAK.

BUT YOU KIND OF DID.

>> YES.

>> YOU WENT BACK TO THE SOUTH SIDE, TOOK A LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M GUESSING YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHAT YOU SAW.

>> CORRECT.

FROM A BUSINESS CONCEPT, TO ME, IT HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO A MARKETPLACE.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT THERE WAS JUST PARTS OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT WERE MISSING FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUTH.

AND IT WAS JUST A CONCEPT OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THOSE PIECES COULD BE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER.

AND THE TIMING OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS IN THE SALE COINCIDED WITH A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITY HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

SO IT WAS A FEELING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT FELT LIKE IT WASN'T GOING TO HAVE A LONG LASTING IMPACT.

IT FELT LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND US IS IN A POSITIVE MOMENTUM.

>> SO YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

>> YES.

>> YOU START A FOUNDATION.

I MEAN HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT STARTING A FOUNDATION.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW.

>> YOU DO NOW.

>> I DO NOW.

YEAH, SO THE FIRST THING I DID WAS I THOUGHT THE SAME THING FROM BUSINESS, WHAT IS A GREAT TEAM.

SO I WENT AND RECRUITED AN INCREDIBLE BOARD OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NON-PROFITS AND GOVERNMENT AND THEY WERE-- I WAS THANKFUL THEY ALL SAID YES.

>> SO HOW IS THIS FOUNDATION FUNDED THOUGH?

IS IT ALL PERSONAL MONEY?

ARE OTHER PEOPLE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS?

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

>> THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE CAME FROM MYSELF.

I HAVE HAD OTHER SOURCES THAT HAVE STARTED TO COME IN.

LOTS OF INTEREST IS BEING EXPRESSED.

I THINK THE BIGGEST EYE OPENER TO ME WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I WOULD PRIMARILY BE DOING.

BUT THE INTEREST FROM OUTSIDE OTHER FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES, REALIZING WHAT THE GOVERNMENT, AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL COULD PROVIDE OPENED MY EYES AND REALIZING THAT EVEN WITH MY CAPITAL, IT DOESN'T MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THAT I WANT TO MAKE AND IT'S SO MUCH BIGGER.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THOUGH, NOT THAT THERE WAS ANY SINGLE ISSUE, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

WHAT CAUSED THE SOUTH SIDE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY TO MAYBE GO INTO SOME DECLINE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT REALLY DOES GOLF COURSE OF BACK TO I-81.

IT GOES BACK THAT FAR.

IT WAS THE MOMENT THAT THAT WENT UP, PROPERTY VALUES OF HOMES RIGHT NEXT TO I-81 DROPPED, PLUMMETED AND BECAME SOMETHING YOU COULD NEVER INVEST IN.

>> YOU COULD PINPOINT IT TO THAT TIME?

>> I CAN BECAUSE YOU CAN WATCH THE THREAT BLOCK BY BLOCK.

IT TOOK 30 TO 40 YEARS BEFORE SOMEBODY'S ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE QUESTION OF THAT HOME OWNERSHIP, WHY WOULD YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX YOUR ROOF WHEN YOUR HOME VALUE HAS DROPPED BY HALF.

>> SURE.

WE ARE COMING UP TO THE POINT NOW WHERE FUNDS WILL START TO GET DISTRIBUTED.

WHO DECIDES, LIKE HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE TO GO WITH THE FUNDS?

DO PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH REQUESTS?

LIKE YOU KNOW, GRANT REQUESTS?

IS THAT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK?

>> I MEAN NOT IN THAT WAY.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY DOING IS TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE PROBLEMS LIE.

OBVIOUSLY HOUSING IS A HUGE ONE.

NOT JUST FROM A LACK OF HOUSING, BUT JUST THE STATE OF THE HOUSING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ME PROUD TO SEE BOARDED UP WINDOWS OR TO SEE JUST COMPLETELY EMPTY LOTS.

SO LIKE THEY WANT TO SEE MORE LIFE, MORE ENERGY AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE PRIORITIZE THOSE PROBLEMS, WHICH ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING IS OUT THERE AND HOW DO WE SORT OF TACKLE THOSE PROBLEMS?

>> I HEAR YOU.

SO THAT'S MY, I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE?

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOUSING NEEDS.

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?

THE SOUTH SIDE?

>> AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

ACADEMIC DAYCARE AND THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN ALL OF IT IS TRANSPORTATION.

HOW WOULD YOU GET TO WORK AT MICRON IN A SPEEDY FASHION?

HOW WOULD YOUR BOY OR GIRL OR BOY AND GIRL GET TO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR OUTSIDE... >> IS IT GEARED MORE TOWARDS THE YOUNGER POPULATION, THE YOUTH OF THE AREA?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TARGETING?

>> IT'S TARGETED AT THE SINGLE PARENT WHO IS RAISING KIDS IT IS TARGETED AT THE KIDS BUT IT IS, I THINK IT'S MULTIGENERATIONAL IN NATURE.

SO WE ARE THINKING WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR SOMEBODY TO GROW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER 20 TO 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> I'M NOT HEARING-- IN WHAT YOU ARE PRIORITIZING-- I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT EDUCATION THOUGH.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A KEY ELEMENT AS WELL?

>> IT'S, FROM MY SIDE, IT'S NOT A KEY ELEMENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

IT'S ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MOTIVATED AND ENERGIZED OUTSIDE OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WHEN SCHOOL ENDS AT 3:30 AND THE PARENT IS OUT WORKING THEIR SECOND OR THIRD JOB, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS HAVE ANOTHER PATHWAY TO CONTINUE LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.

BUT ALSO PARENTS HAVE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT IS MY NEXT CAREER ADVANCEMENT GOING TO BE?

>> YOU DIDN'T GRADUATE COLLEGE.

>> I DIDN'T.

I TRIED.

MANY TIMES.

>> BUT THEN WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

YOU KNOW, IS IT SO NECESSARY TODAY TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK THE CLASSES I TOOK WERE STILL EXTREMELY RELEVANT.

THERE WERE ECONOMIC CLASSES IN THERE, CALCULOUS CLASSES THAT I NEEDED.

>> CALCULOUS?

>> YES.

FOR PROGRAMMING.

>> NOT MY FAVORITE.

BUT I MEAN THAT HAS TO BE AN ELEMENT.

YOU NEED TO SPARK SOMETHING THERE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> YES.

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, THAT YOU COULD BE SUCCESSFUL AT IT IF YOU TRY HARD ENOUGH.

I THINK TRAINING THE EXAMPLES THE ROLE MODELS TO BE PRESENT.

>> YOU HAVE MENTIONED YOU GREW UP HERE.

YOU ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU SPECIFICALLY?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY COMMUNITY IS ABOUT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT INTERESTS.

BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER IN A WAY THAT'S BEN IF ICIAL TO ALL OF THEM-- BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, BARBERS, GROCERY STORES, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD BUSINESSES, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RAISE FAMILIES FROM THE KIDS THEMSELVES.

THEY WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED.

THEY WANT THE KNOW THERE ARE ACTIVITIES FOR THEM.

ALL OF THAT HAPPENING IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE WAY THAT'S ENGAGING FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS.

>> WITHOUT SO MUCH BORDERS.

ONE COMMUNITY BLEEDS RIGHT INTO THE NEXT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT DOES, BUT IT'S ALL CONNECTIVE AND EMPOWERING AND SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN MISSING OR SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE GONE.

THERE IS NO LONGER A BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT'S IN THAT COMMUNITY ANY LONGER UNTIL THEY HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO TO ANOTHER AREA AND THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU BUMP INTO THE ISSUES.

>> SURE.

NOW NO DISRESPECT HERE INTENDED AT ALL, BUT YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T JUST THROW MONEY AT A PROBLEM AND THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FIXED.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE RESULTS HERE?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS HAVING AN IMPACT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

STILL IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIGHT SURVEY AND DATA, BUT HOW PROUD ARE YOU TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE A GREAT METRIC.

THAT'S FROM THE PARENTS POINT OF VIEW, LIKE DO THEY FEEL THIS IS A PLACE THEY CAN RAISE THEIR KIDS?

AND THAT WILL BE A RESULT OF UNDERSTANDING IS THERE TRANSPORTATION THERE, IS THE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THERE.

DO THEY FEEL THEIR KIDS ARE SUCCESSFUL GOING TO SCHOOL.

ALL OF THAT WILL BE BUILT UP OVER TIME, OF COURSE.

BUT I DO THINK THERE IS SOME MEASURABLES THAT ARE IN THERE.

>> WE ARE TIGHT ON TIME BUT I HAVE TO KIND OF THROW THIS AT YOU OUT OF THE BLUE.

I JUST MET YOU RECENTLY.

YOU STRIKE ME AS AN AWFULLY NICE GUY.

I HOPE YOU WILL FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT IS A VERY SHALLOW QUESTION.

BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG ESPECIALLY DEFER YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE ON.

THIS IS LIKE I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD KIND OF A THING.

A LOT OF WORK.

WHY NOT TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN?

WHY NOT BUY YOURSELF AN ISLAND AND GROW COCONUTS?

WOULDN'T THAT BE THE THING TO DO?

>> IT WOULD BE VERY BORING.

I THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY FUN PROBLEM TO THINK ABOUT.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A BOARD GAME.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GETTING VERY FAR FROM MY ROOTS.

THIS IS HOW DO YOU-- >> YOU GREW UP HERE.

>> HOW DO YOU BRING THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER AND SOLVE IT.

THERE IS A CONNECTION TO IT AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING PROBLEM.

>> SO TELL ME THEN BEFORE WE END, TELL ME ABOUT LONG-TERM GOALS.

I MEAN HAVE YOU-- I'M SURE, OF COURSE YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE END GOAL HERE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT THREE, FOUR, FIVE, 10, 15 YEARS?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE ARE THINKING BEYOND MY LIFETIME, TO BE HONEST.

SO I THINK IT REALLY IS SEEING-- >> WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE THOUGH?

ISN'T THAT A NICE THOUGHT?

>> IT IS.

YEAH BUT I THINK HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE BRING TO THE AREA IS A METRIC OF ARE WE TELLING A BIGGER STORY.

IT'S NOT JUST SMALL INVESTMENTS.

IT'S TAKING ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PRESENTING THEM IN A BIGGER LIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE, LIKE POLITICIANS, IF YOU WILL, THEY WANT TO MAKE BIG BETS.

SO WE WANT TO SHOW THEM THERE ARE BIG BETS AND BIG OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST SEEING THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY HAPPEN, PROUD PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS BEING RAISED HERE.

THE HOUSES STARTING TO LOOK LIKE WE REMEMBER THEM LOOKING.

>> TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN EVEN IF PART OF THIS WORKS, I MEAN THIS IS A GENERATIONAL THING.

>> OH YEAH.

>> IT COULD-- THEORETICALLY IN PRACTICALITY, IT WILL OUTLIVE YOU.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY WILL OUTLIVE