January 3, 2005

NFL AND INDIANAPOLIS COLTS COMMIT $200,000 GRANT FOR SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACE AT BEN DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL

Award is part of $2.5 million in new grants to fields nationwide

Indianapolis, IN - Ben Davis High School will receive a new synthetic sports playing surface, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the National Football League (NFL) Grassroots program, a partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).  The grant, announced today by the NFL, NFL Players Association (NFLPA), LISC and the Indianapolis Colts, is part of $12.5 million in grants that have been awarded since 1998 to revitalize 116 playing fields in underserved neighborhoods located in NFL markets nationwide.

The new synthetic playing surface will increase the functionality of the field, while also minimizing excessive wear and tear.

The Ben Davis High School field is used by 500 students in its football and soccer programs.  The field and facilities are also used by the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, community organizations, college bands and middle schools.

“The new turf will be a tangible sign of our Youth Football Fund in action,” said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  “The Youth Football Fund supports all aspects of youth football, from participation, to coaching, to improving the availability of playing fields.”

The grant is being administered jointly by the Wayne Township School District and the Ben Davis Youth Sports Association. 

The NFL Grassroots Program is funded by the NFL Youth Football Fund, a $150 million program established by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to support youth football initiatives.

LISC, a national community development support organization, identifies nonprofit, neighborhood-based agencies which have an interest in refurbishing or building fields in underserved communities, and through the Grassroots Program, provides financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their local schools, parks and neighborhoods.  The local agencies then oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields.

“For the past seven years, the NFL and NFLPA have worked with LISC to provide safe, attractive places to play for kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods across the country,” said Michael Rubinger, LISC’s president and CEO. “We are pleased to be a part of this effort which helps to move community-based development beyond housing to include recreation, health care, education, safe streets programs and economic development initiatives.”

Other communities receiving NFL awards during this funding round are: Brookline, MA; Buffalo; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; Houston; Jacksonville, FL; Nashville; Queens, NY; San Francisco; Seattle; St. Petersburg, FL; Trenton, NJ; and Washington, DC. 

Football fields will be built or significantly renovated with such improvements as the installation of new irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards and goal posts. 

“The NFL and NFL Players Association are proud to assist communities where young people aspire to play football,” said Gene Upshaw, executive director of NFLPA.  “This program allows us to make an immediate impact in neighborhoods where assistance is most needed.”

Contact:
Danny Perry, (LISC) 212-455-9312, or dperry@lisc.org
Adina Ellis (NFL) 212-450-2435, or adina.ellis@nfl.com 
Carl Francis (NFLPA) (202) 463-2216