The Green Bay Packers today announced that the organization is donating two player-directed $125,000 grants, one to Coalition for Youth/Adult Diversion Programs and one to the Sherman Phoenix, as part of the team's ongoing pledge to support social justice and racial equality in Wisconsin communities.
"We're proud to offer our support and contribute to these two worthy Wisconsin organizations," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "Our players continue leading the effort to identify and work with groups that focus on creating meaningful change in our society by empowering youth, creating economic opportunity and building safe and stable communities."
This year, the players that selected the groups were led by Jaire Alexander, Patrick Taylor and Oren Burks.
"Since being here in Green Bay, I've gotten to experience firsthand how giving back to the community positively impacts the lives of others," said Alexander. "It feels good to be part of something bigger than myself. The youth are our future."
This is the fourth straight year the Packers and their players have financially supported the ongoing effort to improve their communities through programs that work to effect change in the areas of racism, oppression, injustice and inequality. In recent years the players have directed funds toward initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity, through education and economic advancement, criminal justice reform and programs to improve police-community relations.
The Coalition for Youth/Adult Diversion Program's mission is to bring awareness and to provide solutions to systemic racial injustice in the Green Bay and Brown County area. Through community collaboration, advocacy, mentorship, and education, the CYADP will divert young people from the traditional criminal justice system and will work to support and assist young people of color with an end goal of providing a fair and equal platform for all races. The mentorship and support of young people of color will strengthen the achievement of individual participants, which will in turn generate community diversity and prosperity.
Sherman Phoenix works to foster change and ensure the eastern gateway to the Sherman Park neighborhood in Milwaukee is a safe, welcoming space that is home to a variety of small businesses-of-color offering diverse foods, wellness services and cultural activities. The socially just and culturally rich real estate project provides mentorship and coaching to help entrepreneurs of color grow their businesses, generate jobs and support the local economy.
