The Green Bay Packers last week invited Wisconsin high school football coaches and athletic directors to apply to receive $10,000 worth of brand-new helmets for their football teams, courtesy of the Packers, American Family Insurance and Xenith.
Ten winning schools will be awarded this spring with helmet packages that will be custom-made to fit each schools' colors to supplement or replace their existing equipment inventory.
The donations are made possible through the support of American Family Insurance and their efforts to provide high school athletes with the equipment and support they need to pursue their dreams. The helmet donation program is part of the Packers' football outreach efforts, which promote and serve youth and high school football programs around Wisconsin.
The gift is also part of a donation match by Xenith as part of their Community Give Back Program and their Buy a Helmet Give a Helmet Program.
Last year, more than 100 coaches and athletic directors submitted applications for the donated helmets, with many of the schools demonstrating great need for donated equipment to serve the number of students in their athletic programs and to conduct their football programs safely. As football helmets are essential to participating in football, many youth and high school football programs must devote their small budgets to purchasing helmets or focus their fundraising efforts on raising enough for helmets, instead of other necessary equipment or training tools.
"We're proud to partner with American Family Insurance and Xenith to help provide brand new helmets to these schools and to help give high school teams the support and resources they need," said Ryan Fencl, Packers football outreach manager. "Ensuring that schools have all the equipment they need so their students can take the field safely is critical, and we know these helmets will aid in the continued, successful development of these schools' football programs."
Packers Give Back is the team's all-encompassing community outreach initiative that includes the Green Bay Packers Foundation, appearances made by players, alumni, coaches and staff, football outreach, cash and in-kind donations, Make-A-Wish visits, and community events. The annual overall charitable impact of Packers Give Back exceeds $9 million.
