NFL Charities announces $1 million donation to establish
North Texas Youth Education Town as part of Super Bowl legacy program
Donation is matched by $1 million from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation
ARLINGTON, Texas -- NFL Charities will donate $1 million to establish the North Texas Youth Education Town to fund expansion and renovations at an existing Salvation Army site in Arlington. The announcement was made at the University of Texas at Arlington, and the donation was matched by $1 million from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation.
For the past 17 years, Youth Education Towns (YETs) have been constructed in Super Bowl host cities as lasting legacies of the game. NFL Charities has donated $20 million toward constructing YETs in at-risk neighborhoods since the initiative began in 1993 as a legacy of Super Bowl XXVII. YETs are aimed at positively impacting youth in at-risk neighborhoods.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement today and was joined by the Jones Family, represented by Cowboys Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones, his wife Gene Jones, and Cowboys Executive Vice President/President Charity Foundation Charlotte Jones Anderson; government officials including Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck; host committee members, including Pro Football Hall of Fame member Emmitt Smith, Chair of the Regional Board of Advisors for the North Texas YET; NFL greatArchie Manning; current and former NFL players, including current Cowboy Felix Jones and retired playersLarry Brown, Chris Draft, Torry Holt and George Teague.
"Youth Education Towns are one of the game's greatest achievements," said Commissioner Goodell. "These lasting Super Bowl legacies have provided a safe haven for thousands of children to learn and develop, and we are pleased to support the North Texas YET and the services it will provide."
NFL players hosted an NFL Giving flag football clinic for children prior to the press conference. As 2010 NFL Charities and NFL Youth Football Fund grant recipients, these players were recognized for giving back to their communities through their foundations and to youth and high school football programs nationwide.
Each year, NFL Charities donates $1 million toward the YET initiative, a figure that is matched by local private and public donations.
Continuing its relationship with the Youth Education Towns, Canon, represented Thursday by Manning, created an educational curriculum for students at the YETs. The curriculum, which utilizes equipment donated by Canon, includes workshops hosted by local photographers, NFL team photographers and Canon representatives. The press conference featured a child from each existing Youth Education Town who has taken part in the Canon photography curriculum over the past several months.
