NFL Foundation Pledges $3 Million to Community Football Fields

NEW YORK, NY – Community organizations, schools, and parks in 14 cities around the country will receive grants totaling $3 million through a non-profit partnership with the NFL Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Grassroots Field Grant Program to create or refurbish neighborhood football fields this year, per an announcement from the league this week.

New fields or field enhancements have been allocated for the following cities: Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Brooklyn, NY; Chicago; Greenburg, PA; Houston; Indian Trail, NC; Miami; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Racine, WI; Rome, GA; and Yelm, WA. Renovations will range from irrigation system installments to lights, bleachers, scoreboards and playing turf.

Dating back to 1998, the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program has provided over $60 million towards the program to benefit over one million of the country’s youth population over the years. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the NFL Foundation/LISC partnership, while the NFL is also celebrating its 100th season.

"For the last 20 years, the NFL Foundation and LISC have helped to create new community playing fields and revitalized old ones in neighborhoods throughout the country," explained Alexia Gallagher, senior director of philanthropy and executive director, NFL Foundation at National Football League. "With more than one million youth using these fields, which provide safe places for families to come together and participate in sports, the benefits of the NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program are indisputable.”

Earlier this year, the National Football League announced the initiative Huddle for 100 in an effort to invite fans, players, clubs and employees to volunteer 100 minutes of their time to make meaningful contributions to their community. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that “giving back is part of the fabric of our league” and that the league’s ambassadors leave an “indelible impact on the communities in which we live and work.”

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 communities. 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," suggested Maurice Jones, president and CEO of LISC, the nation's leading community development support organization – to build or refurbish neighborhood football fields. "Great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. Local athletic fields are a critical part of that and we look forward to bringing additional fields to neighborhoods throughout the country."

The proposal deadline for communities for this year’s funding cycle is August 30, 2019. Click here for more information on the NFL Foundation Grassroots initiative.