FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/16/17
NFL/LISC GRASSROOTS PROGRAM AND HOUSTON TEXANS GRANT RECIPIENT CELEBRATE RIBBON CUTTING OF RENOVATED SPORTS FIELDS
Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA announces renovated youth sports fields
HOUSTON --The Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on its renovated youth sports fields on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at 1234 W. 34th St. The sports fields will accommodate practices, games and camp activities for more than 2,400 children annually in the Greater Heights community.
“Our gratitude to the Houston Texans for these new fields is immense,” said Paul McEntire, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. “Perhaps more than any other time in recent history, having a place to play sports and interact with their peers is important for the children in our community after dealing with the effects of Hurricane Harvey. We want to bring some fun and a sense of normalcy back into their lives at the YMCA.”
The event will feature special speakers including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District, YMCA CEO Paul McEntire, Houston LISC Executive Director Amanda Timm, Houston Texans Ambassador Kevin Walter, plus an appearance by the Texans Cheerleaders and Foster Family YMCA sports teams.
The renovated sports fields are made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Houston Texans through the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program. The grant from the Texans, the NFL Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to the YMCA is part of more than $3 million awarded nationally this year. This NFL Grassroots Program Grant is the 10th awarded in Houston, totaling more than $1 million.
"The Houston Texans, the NFL and LISC are thrilled to unveil these renovated youth sports fields that will host youth practices, games, camp activities and more in the Greater Heights Community,” said Jamey Rootes, president of the Houston Texans. “The Houston Texans Foundation’s mission is to be the Champions for Youth and through this project, we are able to enhance the overall quality of life in the Heights and help develop the next generation of leaders for our community.”
The NFL Foundation/LISC Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC, the nation’s leading community development support organization, has committed nearly $43 million to the program since 1998, supporting 322 projects nationwide. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements including 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.
“LISC aims to forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families,” said Amanda Timm, Executive Director of Houston LISC. “We are proud that our partnership with the NFL and the YMCA has resulted in sports fields that put this vision into action.”
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, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: NFLFoundation.org.
About Houston LISC
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) operates in 30 areas around the country, providing resources for neighborhood leaders and community based organizations to create strong and healthy neighborhoods. For over 27 years, Houston LISC has invested more than $262 million in Houston communities, leveraging an additional $711 million. This investment has created more than 7,900 affordable homes and apartments and 1.4 million sq. ft. of commercial, community and educational space, as well as helped thousands of people improve their financial health and strengthen their neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.lisc.org/houston.
About the Houston Texans Foundation
The Houston Texans Foundation was founded in 2002 with a mission of being Champions for Youth. The Foundation believes that youth are the champions of our future, and therefore it is dedicated to enhancing their quality of life. Since 2002, more than $26.5 million has been raised through our annual fundraising events, disaster response programs, our annual United Way campaign and our partnership with non-profit organizations on Texans game day. Through fundraising efforts, the Foundation supports and administers programs in education, character development and health and fitness to empower the next generation of Texans. The Foundation has aligned with three strategic community partners; the Houston Texans YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and the Houston Food Bank, and the majority of their support goes to these three organizations through monetary donations, programming and volunteerism. The Houston Texans Foundation is committed to inspiring positive change within the Houston community.
About the YMCA of Greater Houston
First organized in 1886, the YMCA of Greater Houston is one of the city's leading nonprofits dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA, a United Way of Greater Houston agency, seeks to serve all – regardless of age, income, faith or background – and we welcome everyone. In the Greater Houston area, 29 YMCA centers, one overnight camp and hundreds of program sites nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the city's health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in the Houston community, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change. To learn more, call 713-659-5566 or visit us on the web at www.ymcahouston.org.
Contact:
Ana Blinder (NFL)
(212) 450-2467
Ana.Blinder@NFL.com
Clare Duncan (LISC)
(713) 597-6843
cduncan@lisc.org
Allie LeClair (Houston Texans)
(832) 667-2050
allie.leclair@houstontexans.com
Heather Saucier (YMCA of Greater Houston)
(713) 758-9187
heather.saucier@ymcahouston.org