The New York Football Giants and Greater Newark LISC to provide $200,000 field grant to Ironbound Community Corporation for revitalization of Newark field; Event will feature check presentation and opportunity for neighborhood youth to interact with players from NY Giants
The New York Football Giants and Greater Newark LISC will present a $200,000 grant to Ironbound Community Corporation to renovation Ironbound Stadium Field on St. Charles Street. At least one New York Football Giants current player will interact with 6-8th graders from Hawkins Street and Wilson Avenue Elementary Schools as a part of the NFL's "Play 60" initiative.
This grant is a part of the National Football League Grassroots Program, which will support the development and renovation of community fields with 15 new grants totaling $2.5 million being directed to schools, parks and facilities across the country.
A partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the NFL Grassroots Program has awarded more than $32.5 million in grants over 14 years to local nonprofits focused on the health and welfare of their communities, especially the children in their neighborhoods.
"This event today marks the end of a 25 year effort by the community to return the Ironbound stadium field to productive use. Its restoration will address the community's need for more recreational space at the same time eliminating the blighting influences that the derelict field has on the neighborhood.", said Rhonda A. Lewis, Executive Director, Greater Newark LISC
The New York Football Giants are thrilled to once again partner with the NFL and LISC to assist in the rebuilding of Newark's fields," said Giants Director of Community Relations Allison Stangeby. "It is important for us to provide safe recreational facilities for our youth to gather, which encourages them to make healthy choices and maintain an active lifestyle.
Through this partnership, Greater Newark LISC has facilitated the renovation of 5 fields in Newark, including fields in Branch Brook Park, Nat Turner Park, West Side Park and Jesse Allen Park.
Ironbound Community Corporation will use the NFL Grassroots funds to support the restoration of the Ironbound Stadium field, which has been closed to the public for over 25 years. The restoration will provide the community with much needed recreational space and the field will enjoy heavy usage by both local school athletic teams and community recreational leagues.
"Restoring Ironbound Stadium does so much to make our community whole again and goes a lot way to taking it from brown and environmentally overburdened to green and vibrant" Joseph Della Fave, Executive Director , Ironbound Community Corp.
The NFL Grassroots Program is administrated by the NFL Youth Football Fund and LISC, the nation's leading community development support corporation. The program has resulted in the construction or renovation of 256 football fields nationwide since its inception. 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.
About the NFL Youth Football Fund
*Established in 1998 by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF) uses football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and ensure the health of amateur football participation. Through the YFF's youth football initiatives and support programs, young athletes are provided with opportunities to learn the game of football, get physically fit and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult mentors. The YFF also provides youngsters with safe and accessible places to play, as well as programs and initiatives that address the importance of proper coaching, health and safety and life skills development. For more information, visit http://www.nflyff.org/. *
About LISC
*LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised more than $12 billion to build or rehab more than 289,000 affordable homes and develop 46 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $33.9 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit http://www.lisc.org/. *
About Iron Bound Community
Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) is a multi-service, community based organization rooted in and representative of the diverse Newark neighborhood called Ironbound. Founded in 1969 by residents, ICC's mission is to engage and empower individuals, families, and groups to realize their aspirations and, together, work to create a just, vibrant, and sustainable community. ICC strives to address people's needs and empower them to improve their own lives, families, and overall community. Today, ICC touches the lives of nearly 1,000 people on average daily and thousands annually with a broad array of programs and services including early child care and education, parenting education and family support services, health services, adult education, senior citizen services and environmental and community development initiatives.
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