April 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 31

Central Greens Field, adjacent to Christel House Academy Charter School in the city of Indianapolis, is operated by Indianapolis Parks
and Recreation and is available for public use.

composed of and led by community
residents who know and understand
their neighborhood's unique needs.
The NFL Foundation Grassroots
Program brings together public,
private and nonprofit groups to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local playing fields. The
program is a partnership between
the NFL Foundation and the LISC.
LISC is the nation's largest support
organization for nonprofit community development and the NFL
Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission of improving the
lives of football players and communities across the country.
Since the late 1990s, the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program has donated more than $40 million to create or
refurbish more than 300 playing fields
nationwide - many of them in public parks. The program provides 1:1
matching grants of up to $200,000
and technical assistance to help renovate or build athletic fields. To date, it
has given about $2.5 million annually, totaling more than $40 million in
more than 70 cities across the country.
	

Successful applicants to the program are community-based organizations, middle schools or high
schools. All applicants are required
to demonstrate community support
and ensure that fields are open to
the community through joint-use
agreements. Public agencies are prohibited from applying, unless they
are working in cooperation with a
school or nonprofit. Award winners
are encouraged to work or continue working with USA Football, the
sport's national governing body.
Through its Heads Up Football program, USA Football collaborates
with local teams and leagues to educate coaches, players and parents on
issues ranging from heat preparedness and hydration to concussion
recognition and response.
" This formula works. Not only
have over 300 field projects been
funded during the 16-year history
of the program, but the grants have
also brought together, reunited and
strengthened community organizations and public agencies' relationships in communities across the

country, " President and CEO of
LISC Michael Rubinger says.
It's often difficult to fundraise and
find resources for park and recreation
projects. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Grant program is an opportunity for financing assistance. Another
opportunity is the LISC/ESPN Pilot
Home Court Program, which was
launched this year to help communities finance the construction or renovation of basketball courts.
These two programs provide park
departments with help to finance
projects, build partnerships, collaborate, cooperate and gain greater
community involvement in seeing
important recreation facility projects
to fruition.
For more information regarding
the NFL Foundation Grassroots
Program and the LISC/ESPN Pilot
Home Court Program, visit www.
lisc.org/our-initiatives/health/
sports-recreation. 
Beverly Smith is Senior Program Director for
Sports and Recreation at Local Initiatives
Support Corporation (bsmith@lisc.org).

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Parks & Recreation

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April 2016 - Parks & Recreation

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