August 20, 2024 By AMBFF IN Founder Initiatives
LISC, supported by the NFL Foundation, managed the field work in preparation for the 2024 football season.
August 20, 2024 – Four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will debut refurbished football fields this fall through grants totaling more than $6.5 million from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program was an invitational grant program designed to improve field quality, safety and accessibility for students and local community groups serving youth through football. The program, funded by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF) and supported by the NFL Foundation, was open to select HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama. The program was managed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s leading community development support organization which, with the NFL, has refurbished hundreds of community football fields throughout the country during the last 25 years.
The grant was distributed among the following schools:
- Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, to convert the natural grass football and soccer field at Albany State University Coliseum to turf.
- Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, to replace the current turf at Panther Stadium.
- Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, to convert the natural grass at its practice facility to turf.
- Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, to replace the turf at the current football and soccer field at Ted Wright Stadium.
Grants were awarded following a request for proposals. The Land Tek Group, Inc. – with more than 40 years of sports facility development experience – managed construction using local contractors engaged by the universities.
“The positive impact of athletics is a driving force throughout our portfolio of businesses,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay. “Arthur Blank and his Family Foundation recognize and prioritize community impact through sport, and supporting these historical institutions is a natural extension of our values. We are honored to partner with LISC, the NFL Foundation and these universities to enhance the playing surfaces, with the shared goal of creating more opportunities for the students and surrounding communities alike.”
“The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program is one of many ways the NFL is deepening its commitment to HBCU’s,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL VP of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation. “We are excited to provide resources for student athletes at the selected institutions to play the game of football to the best of their ability while creating equal opportunities for all.”
“Thanks to the Arthur M. Blank Foundation and the NFL Foundation, we are able to deliver capital and technical expertise to institutions that offer tremendous value to students but that may not have the types of endowments that larger universities have,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “With access to flexible resources, the schools are able to make updates and upgrades that might not otherwise be possible—creating opportunities that benefit not just the institutions themselves, but improve the health and well-being of students and community members as well.”
About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1 billion to charitable causes. Our collective giving areas are Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together.
In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 82.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.
About the NFL Foundation:
The National Football League (NFL) Foundation is a nonprofit 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 and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. The NFL Foundation has become one of the leading philanthropic entities in America, contributing to NFL team communities, national and international disaster relief efforts, and societal issues. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit NFLFoundation.org.
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Contact:
- John Deighton, AMBSE, john.deighton@ambse.com
- Caroline Huston, AMBFF, caroline.huston@ambff.org
- Beverly Smith, LISC, bsmith@lisc.org
- A’Maiya Allen, NFL, amaiya.allen@nfl.com
Photo Credit: Shot By Dunkan
