THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IN HONOR OF THE NEW ATHLETIC FIELD AT SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL MONDAY AUGUST 18 AT 3:30PM
NFL FOUNDATION GRASSROOTS PROGRAM, LISC AND
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ANNOUNCE INAUGURATION OF
South San Francisco High School’s new Athletic Field
The NFL Foundation Grassroots program, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the San Francisco 49ers are pleased to announce the site dedication to celebrate the new athletic field at South San Francisco High School on Monday, August 18th, 2014 at 3:30pm. Representatives from the San Francisco 49ers, LISC, and the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) will be present for the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the transformed field. The project was initiated through a grant of $200,000 from LISC and the San Francisco 49ers as part of the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program, which now brings the total to over $900,000 in youth related grants facilitated by the 49ers to date.
The grant, awarded by the 49ers, the NFL Foundation and LISC was matched by the SSFUSD from funds provided by Measure J, a bond measure approved by voters in November 2010 to improve school infrastructure and enhance the student environment. South San Francisco High School’s new field will serve as a home not only to its high school students but also local youth in the community.
“In alignment with the 49ers Foundation’s mission to keep kids ‘Safe, on Track and in School,’ the San Francisco 49ers are honored to partner with the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program and LISC to create a safe place for youth to participate in the NFL’s PLAY 60 movement, encouraging kids to ‘get out and play … 60 minutes a day,’” said Joanne Pasternack, director of 49ers Foundation and community relations.
“We are delighted that this new field will provide a safe place to play to thousands of youth
and families in South San Francisco,” said Margaret Gee, Executive Director of Bay Area LISC.
“This is our first field in South San Francisco and we are thrilled to help create more recreational opportunities to promote active and healthy lifestyles in this community.”
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC, the nation’s leading community development support corporation, has resulted in the construction or renovation of 293 football fields nationwide in the past 16 years. During that time, the NFL Foundation has granted more than $38 million to revitalize playing fields in underserved neighborhoods. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as 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, neighborhood-based agencies which have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and parks in underserved neighborhoods. Through the program, the local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their neighborhoods. The local agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields. ”Our focus at LISC is on building sustainable communities – good places to live, work, do business and raise families,” said Michael Rubinger, LISC president and CEO. “Developing recreational opportunities is a key part of that, and the NFL Foundation has been a committed partner in making it happen.”
About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation (NFL Foundation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of sports, youth football and the communities in which we live. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health and safety of athletes, youth football, and the communities which support our game.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government, and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised $13.8 billion to build or rehab 313,400,000 affordable homes and develop 51 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged over $41 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org.
About the San Francisco 49ers Foundation
The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 23rd year, the 49ers Foundation supports development programs for underserved youth that keep them, “Safe, On Track, and In School.” The San Francisco 49ers are promoting RESPECT for schools and community by donating a significant portion of the foundation’s funding toward family violence prevention programs and activities that teach youth leadership and respect. Since 1992, the Foundation has donated over $25.3 million to support non-profits, including $3.3 million in 2013