FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) recently announced its 2007 year-end grants total, awarding more than $1.8 million to youth-serving, non-profit organizations throughout Georgia. The 2007 investments bring the foundation’s lifetime total grant giving to just over $13 million.
With a focus on youth fitness, AFYF works with non-profit organizations throughout Georgia to help curb childhood obesity.
The foundation’s Falcons Fitness Zones youth fitness signature program began its third year of programming in 2007. Four neighborhoods in Atlanta (Vine City, Cascade Road, Grant Park and Kirkwood/East Lake) and one in Hall County have been designated as Falcons Fitness Zones. Launched prior to the 2005 season, the program annually provides $1 million in grants to AFYF community partners, and now brings year-round fitness programming to more than 4,700 kids per day. Falcons players and cheerleaders regularly visit with students in Falcons Fitness Zones to conduct fitness programs, and to encourage increased physical activity for youth in these areas.
During 2007, the foundation expanded its grant-making work in the area of youth fitness, providing key investments aimed at curbing youth obesity and encouraging active lifestyles.
Atlanta Track Club-Kilometer Kids Program Expansion
The foundation’s $25,000 grant to the Atlanta Track Club helped expand the club’s Kilometer Kids Program, which provides opportunities for members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to take part in youth running activities. Participants in the Kilometer Kids Program are encouraged to complete a marathon (26.2 miles) over a 10-week period. This grant was part of a $57,500 cluster of grants made to track clubs throughout Georgia.
USA Swimming-Make a Splash Atlanta
Underwritten by a $500,000 commitment (over four years) from AFYF, USA Swimming launched its Make a Splash campaign to promote water safety awareness and the importance of physical activity to more than 3,000 Atlanta-area children. This national urban youth swimming initiative launched in Atlanta in June 2007 through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
Project Adventure-Newton County Recreation Department
AFYF made a $250,000 investment to Project Adventure, a Covington-based nonprofit that houses and educates at-risk youth, and the Newton County Recreation Department for the renovation of Cousins Gym. R.L. Cousins High School was once Newton County’s only high school for African American students, and now exists as a community center for youth in the county. Having fallen into disrepair, the Cousins Gym will be renovated through a partnership with AFYF, Project Adventure, Newton County Recreation Department and with other charitable contributions, providing opportunities for youth in the Project Adventure program and throughout the county to participate in physical fitness activities.
HOPSports
During 2007, AFYF made an initial investment of more than $140,000 to partners in the foundation’s Falcons Fitness Zones signature program, earmarked for the purchase of the HOPSports Training System. This training system is a multi-media, video game-like physical activity program designed to educate, entertain and engage both teachers and students. Multi-screen, music-based presentations are delivered through a projection system onto an available wall or projection screen, allowing participants to learn a range of physically active lessons including sports-specific skills, engaging kids in lessons that integrate nutrition, fun facts and physical activities.
Youth in the Falcons Fitness Zones are among the nation’s first to take part in this training system, and participate in HOPSports lessons taught by Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders and team mascot Freddie Falcon through tailored content developed especially for use in the Falcons Fitness Zones. Current participants include the Metro Atlanta YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Hall County Boys & Girls Clubs and several local schools throughout metro Atlanta and north Georgia.
During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation granted more than $160,000 to help create physical fitness opportunities for youth throughout Georgia. Grants were made to the following organizations:
Sports & Fitness Activities
Swimming
Albany Area YMCA -- $16,800 to support a swimming program
Multi-Sport
Boys & Girls Club of Bulloch County -- $17,000 to purchase Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (S.P.A.R.K.) curriculum and equipment
Chance for a Higher Level Outreach -- $5,000 for fitness equipment and fitness instruction
Tennis
Georgia Tennis Foundation -- $10,000 for Tennis Georgia program in Metro Atlanta, Rome and Columbus.
Dance and Movement
JDCI Dance and Learning Stars -- $15,000 for student registration fees, instruction and attire
Several Dancers Core -- $10,000 for Dynamic X-Change Healing Arts Program.
Basketball
A Friend’s House -- $21,800 for the development of a basketball court
Adaptive Sports
North Metro Miracle League -- $10,000 for after-school and summer fitness programs
Golf
East Lake Foundation -- $25,000 to provide access to the golf course, practice area and tournaments for participating youth
Fitness Training
Decatur Education Foundation -- $7,000 for coaching session fees for participating students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
Healthy Lifestyles
Community Gardening
Community and Housing Initiatives Corp. -- $20,000 to launch Project Open Market, a community gardening program
Nutrition
North Georgia Angel House, Inc. -- $5,000 for nutrition software and supplies
About Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation
The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) was established in 1985 to serve as the philanthropic arm of the Atlanta Falcons. Since Arthur Blank acquired the club in 2002, the AFYF has grown to be the largest team-funded foundation in the National Football League, providing more than $13 million in grants to non-profit organizations across the state of Georgia. The AFYF is committed to working with non-profit organizations throughout Georgia to reduce childhood obesity through youth fitness, sports programs, athletic field development and the Falcons Fitness Zones. For information on 2008 AFYF grant guidelines, please visit www.afyf.org.
