The Howard-Suamico School District will get a new synthetic turf football field at Bay Port High School, thanks in part to a $200,000 grant from the Green Bay Packers through the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program.
The grant from the Packers, the NFL Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to the Howard-Suamico School District is part of $2.5 million in field refurbishment awards allocated nationwide this year. The new athletic field will be used by multiple high school athletic teams and four community sports organizations in the villages of Howard and Suamico.
The Packers and the Howard-Suamico School District will hold a ceremonial check presentation at the new field on Oct. 3, when Bay Port High School hosts Ashwaubenon High School in the athletic field's inaugural use. This is the 13th grant secured by the Packers since 1998 for Wisconsin organizations working on new or renovated athletic fields and stadiums, with the cumulative total now at $1,710,000.
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program – a partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC, the nation's leading community development support organization – has supported the construction or renovation of 290 football fields nationwide since 1998. During that time, the NFL Foundation has granted nearly $37 million to revitalize playing fields in underserved neighborhoods. 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.**
LISC identifies local, nonprofit, community-based agencies that have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, 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.
"These fields are useful in so many ways," said Michael Rubinger, LISC's president and CEO. "With them, local organizations can promote good physical fitness, teamwork, and community spirit – all critical elements of neighborhood health. The NFL Foundation has been a great partner in creating these essential community assets."
About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health and safety of athletes, youth football, and the communities which support our game. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $13.8 billion to build or rehab more than 313,000 affordable homes and develop 51 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $41.2 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org.
