NEW YORK -- The National Football League and NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee were joined by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Thursday to announce a series of charitable initiatives connected to Super Bowl XLVIII, to be completed by the Host Committee's Snowflake Youth Foundation.
The announcement, which was made at New York City Hall, unveiled plans to revitalize a number of venues throughout the five boroughs, many of which serve the city's youth and suffered major damage in fall 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
More than $1 million dollars, jointly contributed by the NFL Foundation and NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, will be dedicated to the following projects in coordination with the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City: playground renovation at Mahoney Playground (Staten Island), new football field at Boys and Girls High School (Brooklyn), new gym at Hammel Community Center (Rockaway Beach), new football field at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club (Bronx), renovation of gym and teen center at Educational Alliance Boys and Girls Club (Manhattan) and new playground at The Sandy Ground (Rockaway). The Mayor's Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovative public-private partnerships.
Mayor Bloomberg was joined at the announcement by: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; Co-Chairman of the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee and Owner of the New York Jets Robert Wood Johnson IV; Co-Chairman of the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee and Co-Owner of the New York Football Giants Jonathan Tisch; and NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Al Kelly.
"New York City is thrilled to be co-hosting the Super Bowl this year not only because of the excitement and economic activity it will generate, but also because of the NFL's commitment to giving back," Mayor Bloomberg said. "With projects like a playground renovation in Staten Island and a new football field in the Bronx, the NFL Foundation and the Host Committee promise to leave a lasting impact and provide more opportunities for young New Yorkers to get out and play."
"We know that Super Bowl XLVIII will thrill the thousands of fans watching in MetLife Stadium, but we want to ensure that the game impacts many more people in the surrounding communities," Goodell said. "We are proud that these revitalization projects will create a lasting legacy for families throughout the five boroughs long after the final whistle on Super Bowl Sunday."
"Our contributions will ensure that the Super Bowl will have a lasting impact and improve the day-to-day lives of many New Yorkers and residents of the tri-state area," Johnson said. "Giving back to our communities is integral to what the NFL and its greatest game are all about and we are proud to provide support that will continue long after the game has ended."
"While the Super Bowl will shine a great spotlight on MetLife Stadium, we are very proud to bring attention to schools, playing fields, playgrounds and after-school centers that contribute mightily to the quality of life for the children in our communities," Tisch said. "By improving some of our areas cherished structures, many of which are still struggling with the after effects of Hurricane Sandy, the Host Committee will be leaving a meaningful legacy for years to come."
"Of all the advance planning and coordinating the Host Committee completes in preparation for Super Bowl XLVIII, no work is as fulfilling as that which is conducted for our collective community benefit," Kelly said. "These projects promote physical activity, healthy attitudes, and teamwork and embody the true spirit of the Super Bowl."
In the spring of 2013, the NFL Foundation and the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee announced a combined $2 million grant commitment, to be distributed by the Host Committee's Snowflake Youth Foundation, to areas in need around New York and New Jersey. The focus is on revitalizing and rebuilding places for youth to be active and healthy, including in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Capital improvement projects throughout the two states include field refurbishments, playground construction and equipment donations.
Additional good works will continue in the month of October, as the Host Committee and NFL will join forces with Mayor Bloomberg's Million TreesNYC campaign and NYC Service to plant more than 25,000 trees and shrubs at Rockaway Community Park in Queens on Oct. 19. The project is part of a larger series of green initiatives connected to Super Bowl XLVIII, with tree plantings to occur in each of the five boroughs.
The NFL Foundation annually donates $1 million toward Super Bowl legacy programs and is matched by local private and public donations. Super Bowl XLVIII will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Feb. 2, 2014.
-- NFL Communications
