The National Football League Grassroots Program is supporting the development and renovation of community fields with 16 new grants totaling more than $2.5 million being directed to schools, parks and facilities across the country.
A partnership between the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Grassroots Program has awarded more than $28 million in grants over 12 years to local nonprofits focused on the health and welfare of their communities, particularly with regards to their young people. The latest round of grants supports new and upgraded fields in the following NFL markets:
"These fields are a tangible sign of our Youth Football Fund in action," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "They help us make an impact where assistance is most needed. We are proud to support projects that bring neighborhoods together and give children a safe place to play and be active."
The NFL Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and LISC, the nation's leading community development support corporation, has resulted in the construction or renovation of 225 football fields nationwide in the past 12 years. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.
"Our focus at LISC is on building sustainable communities -- good places to live, work, do business and raise families," said Michael Rubinger, LISC president and CEO. "Developing recreational opportunities is a key part of that, and the NFL has been a committed partner in making it happen."
About the NFL Youth Football Fund
Established in 1998 by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the NFL Youth Football Fund seeks to use football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and also ensure the health of grassroots football in future generations. Through the YFF's youth football initiatives and support programs, youngsters are provided with opportunities to learn the game of football, get physically fit and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult mentors. For more information, visit http://www.nflyff.org/.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $9.7 billion to build or rehab more than 271,000 affordable homes and develop 40 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $31.3 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org
