Silver Salute at Ford Field with Guest Speaker NFL Commissioner Tagliabue Will Honor LISC's 25 Years

21 May 2005 - Detroit, MI

NFL players join in fundraiser for Detroit LISC’s Neighborhoods NOW campaign for metro area; video to highlight local hometown NFL heroes in their Detroit neighborhoods

Featuring hometown National Football League (NFL) players born and raised in Detroit, the Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is sponsoring a Silver Tribute event for National LISC's 25th Anniversary. The fundraiser to benefit Detroit LISC's ”˜Neighborhoods NOW' campaign for metro Detroit will be held at Ford Field on Thursday, April 28, with a V.I. P. Reception at 5:30 p.m., Tribute Dinner at 7:00 p.m. and Tribute Program at 8:00 p.m. Ticket and event information available at 1-800-794-7326.

Detroit is one of 33 nationwide locations of LISC, the country's largest nonprofit supporter and funder of community development activities. This event is the first in a series of yearlong 25th anniversary celebrations LISC will celebrate across the country, culminating with a gathering in Washington, DC on September 28.

During the event a video will cameo the importance of neighborhoods through the eyes of NFL players born and raised in Detroit. With narration by Robert Porcher the players interviewed are: Jerome Bettis, Allen Hughes, Reggie McKenzie and Ron Rice.

Guest speaker NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be introduced by Bill Ford Jr., chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company and vice chair of The Detroit Lions. Robert Porcher is the honorary chair of the event and the emcee is Dan Miller of Fox2 TV.

In 1998, the NFL Youth Football Fund, a joint NFL and NFL Players Association Fund, and LISC joined forces to create the NFL Grassroots Program. The program provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations and middle and high schools located in low-to moderate-income areas surrounding NFL markets, with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields. It is intended not only to respond to the immediate shortage of playing fields, but also to build an infrastructure through partnerships and resident involvement, with the goal of sustaining open spaces for community use.

Since its inception, the program has awarded $12.5 million in grants for 116 projects with total development costs of $53 million in more than 40 cities across the country.

"Football fields are important community assets that offer opportunities for recreation and education," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "We are proud of our partnership with LISC and congratulate the organization on this milestone. We look forward to continuing our work with LISC here in Detroit and across the country."

Local event sponsors DTE Energy Foundation, Masco, Standard Federal, The Detroit Lions and The Skillman Foundation are joined by the nationwide celebration's leadership gifts from Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and State Farm Insurance Companies, with significant contributions from Prudential Financial, Inc., Wachovia and Washington Mutual.

"LISC is grateful to Detroit for this honor at The Detroit Lions' Ford Field. We are proud of the work Detroit LISC has accomplished in its 15 years in their city's neighborhoods," said Michael Rubinger, LISC president.

"At Detroit LISC, partners like the NFL Youth Football Fund are helping us positively impact Detroit. Their support of this event benefits our 'Neighborhoods NOW' campaign which will invest $40 million over the next three years into Detroit's neighborhoods. This initiative will boost the efforts of nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs) who are creating stronger Detroit neighborhoods," said Anika Goss-Foster, Detroit LISC program director.

Since 1990 Detroit LISC has offered CDCs technical assistance, project financing, operating support and training to help them build capacity and revitalize their neighborhoods. Detroit LISC works closely with city and state governments and partners with residents, investors, lenders and donors, such as foundations and major financial institutions. The organization has raised over $67 million and leveraged an additional $350 million in funding for Detroit.

About LISC

LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize underserved neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $6 billion to build or rehab nearly 160,000 affordable homes and develop 25 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide.

About the NFL Youth Football Fund

The NFL Youth Football Fund was established by the NFL and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The $150 million fund promotes positive youth development, while insuring the health and future of football at the grassroots level, and has supported numerous programs aimed at strengthening America's youth football movement.

Article Type: Press Release