Community organizations, schools and parks in 14 cities throughout the country will receive grants totaling $3 million from the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program, which is a partnership between the NFL Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a leading community development support organization – to build or refurbish neighborhood football fields.
Since 1998, the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program has provided nearly $61 million to support the creation or refurbishment of 376 fields nationwide. This funding cycle will include new fields, or field enhancements, in the following cities: Akron, Ohio; Chicago; Columbia, Miss.; Culver City, Calif; Dallas; Flint, Mich.; Harrison, Ohio; Indianapolis; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Miami; San Diego; Springfield, Mass.; and Tempe, Ariz.
The 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.
“We’re proud to team up with LISC yet again for the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program to make an impact in 14 communities across the country,” said Alexia Gallagher, the NFL’s vice president of philanthropy and executive director, NFL Foundation. “The benefits of these field grants are best shown through the over one million youth, families and community members who can come to these renovated areas and safely enjoy watching and playing sports.”
LISC identifies local, nonprofit and community-based agencies that have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, the local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their areas. The agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields.
“Our work with the NFL Foundation fits perfectly with LISC’s mission to forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America,” said Maurice Jones, LISC president and CEO. “Local athletic fields are critical assets of opportunity. We look forward to bringing additional fields to neighborhoods throughout the country.”
