Chiefs Announce $50,000 Grant, Have Totaled $1.75 Million For Local Youth Football Fields

Jun 27, 2008, 3:07:38 PM

Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs, St. John Francis Regis School will soon be able to unequivocally say the grass is greener on its side of the fence. That’s as a result of a field renovation that is set for completion this fall. The field upgrade will be made possible by a $50,000 grant awarded to St. John Francis Regis School by the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football League, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). This Chiefs funding was matched by $50,000 from the community. In the past decade, the Chiefs organization has contributed $1.75 million for local youth football field improvements and construction.

“The Kansas City Chiefs sincerely believe that youth athletics and specifically youth football are essential to the healthy growth and development of all children,” said Chiefs President Carl Peterson. “Youth sports provide an opportunity for not only our future athletes but tomorrow’s leaders as well, regardless of their respective background. In the coming years, we will continue to work hard to promote and expand youth sports, especially football, in Kansas City.”

The St. John Francis Regis School Athletic Field is a regional field where area schools have consolidated to form a strong football program. Neighboring schools, athletic team training, and other organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts also hold events on the field. St. Regis designed a redevelopment plan that will include a new irrigation system, re-seeding and re-grading the field surface, upgrading the concession building, and cleaning up the tree lines surrounding the field.

“We are grateful to the Chiefs organization, the NFL and LISC and are excited about the opportunities this grant will provide for our school children and the hundreds of other children throughout our community who use our athletic field throughout the year,” said Father Tom Holder, Pastor of St. John Francis Regis Parish. “We have many dedicated parents who have worked hard to procure the grant and provide direction for the field project so that our children can participate in high quality programs,” he added.

The Chiefs commitment is thanks in part to the NFL Grassroots program, which has now awarded eight metro-area field grants in conjunction Greater Kansas City LISC. This initiative is funded by the NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF), a non-profit foundation established by the NFL and the NFLPA to support youth football. Since 1998, the NFL Grassroots program has provided more than $17 million to help build, or rebuild, 155 youth fields in more than 40 cities, typically in neighborhoods where funding sources are few and far between.

“These fields are a critical part of our efforts to create sustainable communities – places where people want to live, work and raise families,” said Julie Porter, Greater Kansas City LISC Executive Director. “Through the NFL Grassroots Fields Program we are not only creating places for young people to compete in football and other sports, we’re also making countless neighborhoods better and stronger.”

About The Chiefs Youth Football Outreach Efforts
With this grant to St. John Francis Regis School, the Chiefs organization has now contributed $1.75 million for metro-area field refurbishments and construction in the past ten years. Needless to say, the promotion of safe playing environments that afford more children the ability to participate in youth football is a focus of the team. Prior to the start of the 2008 NFL season, the team will also officially open the Chiefs Youth Football Field. That field is just the second of its kind located at an NFL team’s official training facility. Between the state-of-the-art Sprinturf artificial playing surface and field’s location, it will l enable all youth to dream big. Other groups receiving grants this past decade thanks to the Chiefs include: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Central High School, 12th Street Heritage, Northland, Derrick Thomas Academy, Bishop Ward High School, and the Hickman Mills C-1 School District.

“We at the Kansas City Chiefs have a strong belief that youth sports are essential to the healthy growth and development of youth everywhere.” Chiefs President Carl Peterson has noted on several occasions. “Simply put, youth football is the life-blood of the NFL and something that we in the Chiefs organization are highly committed to.”

The Chiefs efforts to promote and expand youth football are at the forefront of the organization’s focus. As a result of their unparalleled commitment to the development of youth football in the Kansas City area, the Chiefs received the Pop Warner-NFL Team of the Year Award in 2005.

About Greater Kansas City LISC
LISC is the largest community development organization in the country, serving inner cities and distressed rural areas in 36 states. Greater Kansas City LISC supports redevelopment in more than 100 square miles of Kansas City metro area neighborhoods. By providing capital, technical expertise, training and information, Greater Kansas City LISC helps transform targeted neighborhoods into healthy, sustainable communities in partnership with their residents. Since 1990, Greater Kansas City LISC has invested more than $89 million into urban core neighborhoods on both sides of the state line resulting in 5,593 new and rehabbed homes and apartments; the development of 1.4 million square feet of retail and commercial space; and over 317,000 square feet of community facilities and sports fields. For more information, visit www.lisc.org/kansascity.

About St. John Francis Regis School
St. John Francis Regis School is located in South Kansas City and serves a diverse population of students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Since 1966, over 7,000 children have attended the Catholic school committed to developing the mind, body and spirit of each child in award-winning and accredited programs. The school has a proud and successful tradition of participating in athletic programs sponsored by the Parochial League of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City ~ St. Joseph. St. Regis School Principal, Mary Bachkora, together with the teachers, coaches and parents provide an environment where children can participate in sports programs, learn the value of team athletics and develop life skills regardless of ability.

About The NFL Youth Football Fund
Established in 1998 by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the NFL Youth Football Fund seeks to use football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and also ensure the health of grassroots football in future generations. Through the YFF’s youth football initiatives and support programs, youngsters are provided with opportunities to learn the game of football, get physically fit and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult mentors.

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