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PROGRAMS

NFL Grassroots Program



Parks and ball fields can serve as tremendous community assets because they offer opportunities for recreation, education, and relaxation that contribute to the local quality of life, especially for young people. The NFL Youth Football Fund Grassroots Program, a partnership of the National Football League Youth Football Fund (NFL YFF) and LISC, provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations, middle schools and high schools with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of youth football fields.

LISC works to ensure that field projects receiving NFL funding have matching dollars to meet their total development budgets. Many of the field projects are located in close proximity to other community revitalization efforts, creating a web of local investments that reinforce each other.

All-High Stadium 
All-High Stadium The Buffalo Public School’s extensive program for rehabilitation of facilities includes Bennett High School and its All-High Stadium. The revitalization of All-High Stadium was aided by a $200,000 grant through LISC’s partnership with the Buffalo Bills, the National Football League (NFL), and the NFL Players Association through the NFL Youth Football Fund. The LISC/NFL partnership has provided nearly $10 million for projects like All-High, the fourth Buffalo-area recipient of an award from the program.                 

Designed and built in 1929, All High Stadium served as the central outdoor sports facility for all high schools within the Buffalo City School District. The LISC/NFL grant will pay for a new synthetic football field, similar to those used for NFL playing surfaces.

Lackawanna Veterans Stadium
Lackawanna Veterans StadiumThe Lackawanna CDC, through private fundraising, a $50,000 grant through the LISC NFL program, and the participation of the City of Lackawanna, the Lackawanna Chamber of Commerce, and the Lackawanna City School District, spearheaded the renovation of this historic stadium.  

Originally called Lackawanna Veterans Stadium, the name was changed in honor of former Lackawanna football star and NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterbacked the Eagles Super Bowl team. The renovated stadium will be renamed and rededicated to Lackawanna’s military service veterans and a new memorial monument will be installed and dedicated as part of the renovation. The renovated stadium will host little league and high school football teams in the City of Lackawanna. 

Emerson Playground
Emerson Football FieldBroadway-Fillmore NHS was awarded a grant through the LISC partnership with NFL Charities. The $100,000 grant went toward construction of a little league football field at Emerson Playground. There is also a support building with rest rooms, a small concession area, equipment storage and a weigh-in area. The City of Buffalo committed $142,000 to this $242,000 project.


Little League Football Field at Riverside Park
An $80,000 award through the LISC partnership with NFL Charities, allowed Black Rock-Riverside NHS to complete and enhance the Riverside Park Master Plan. The grant assisted in the construction of a playing field and expansion of the existing ice rink to provide restrooms and a concession area.  Riverside Park abuts the local business district and the plan to restore the park for sports and families and to revitalize the commercial corridor are part of the City of Buffalo's Consolidated Plan.