Together with the Houston Texans and the NFL Foundation's Grassroots Program, LISC and a Houston neighborhood celebrate the grand opening of refurbished YMCA fields, where thousands of local children will unleash their energy for years to come.
In the Houston neighborhood of Greater Heights, the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA has two newly renovated playing fields thanks to LISC, the Houston Texans and the NFL Foundation’s Grassroots Program. With a $100,000 grant from the Houston Texans, this local YMCA branch can take its youth programs back outdoors. And while the renovation has been in the works for nearly a year, the grand opening feels like a positive step forward in the city's recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.
The grant is part of more than $3 million awarded nationally through LISC and the NFL Foundation this year alone and is the tenth grant awarded in Houston since 2003. The fields will accommodate outdoor activities for more than 2,400 children each year.
“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.”
“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, Houston Texans President. “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.”
We’ve Got Game
For almost 20 years, the NFL Grassroots partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC has committed more than $43 million to building and improving fields, supporting more than 330 projects nationwide. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements including irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf.
Athletic fields can help transform neighborhoods by offering opportunities for recreation, education and relaxation that contribute to the local quality of life. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program seeks to redress the shortage of clean, safe and accessible football fields in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.