Craig McGraw of Marlboro, national sales director for South Plainfield-based Trans American Trucking & Warehouse, has been named to the board of trustees of Team Walker, a Jersey City nonprofit organization dedicated to giving inner-city youth constructive alternatives to the streets. He joins the board of 14 trustees overseeing a charity that provides underprivileged children a safe place to learn and play after school.

Founded in 1996 by Jersey City native Jerry Walker and his brother, Jasper, Team Walker has made a positive difference in the lives of the thousands of children who have participated in its after-school recreational and academic programs.

Jerry Walker, president and chief executive officer of Team Walker, was a standout basketball player at Seton Hall, leading the Pirates to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament and becoming a fan favorite because of his dedication and tenacity. Before Seton Hall, Jerry Walker led Jersey City's St. Anthony's High School to four state basketball championships and was a key player on its 1989 national championship team.

McGraw and Jerry Walker met several years ago at a Big East basketball tournament. McGraw's interest in Team Walker was immediately sparked. "I played basketball for the Jersey City Boys Club AAU team when I was in high school, so I always had an interest in the area, and I know how important it is to have positive programs for the kids to be involved in, which Team Walker provides,'' McGraw said.

McGraw has been a financial donor to Team Walker ever since that first meeting with Walker, but he wanted to become more involved in the organization. This spring, McGraw inquired about a board position, toured the Team Walker's facility in Jersey City, and visited with Jerry Walker who encouraged him to join the board.

Walker said, "Craig will definitely be an asset to Team Walker and we are looking forward to having him on the board."

In addition to the 14 members of the board of trustees, Team Walker also has a 10-member advisory board that includes famed basketball coach P.J. Carlesimo, skipper of Seton Hall's Pirates from 1982 to 1994.

Team Walker serves between 100 and 400 children daily. It provides role models and a structured academic and recreational environment in which to learn the importance of education, responsibility, persistence, teamwork, and unity. Team Walker's programs include Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as cultural and athletic activities and workshops for family members. In 2014, the organization opened its Team Walker Learning Center at 337 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City.

McGraw believes in giving back to the community in many ways. He also is a member of the National Police Defense Foundation, Manalapan, N.J., which sponsors Little League teams, helps fund surgeries for underprivileged children, and sponsors Bubbles for Babies, the official charity of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Last year, he was honored by NJBIZ, a New Jersey business news publication, which named him one of its "Forty under 40'' award winners because of his outstanding contributions and commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and community.

McGraw joined Trans American Trucking & Warehouse in 2005, after earning a B.A. in criminal justice fromSeton Hall University. He became national sales manager for Trans American Trucking and Warehouse in 2010. Trans American Trucking & Warehouse been providing trucking, warehousing, packaging and export services for customers throughout the United States and Canada for 40 years.