Falcons Youth Foundation

Nearly 2,300 Atlanta area kids shattered a Guinness World Record on Tuesday morning for largest virtual physical education class with the Falcons at the Georgia Dome

Click here to try the workout yourself!

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 Atlanta Falcons in 2002, AFYF has grown to be the largest owner-funded foundation in the National Football League, providing more than $17 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the state of Georgia.

Grant Focus Areas

AFYF is taking the issue of childhood obesity head on by investing in nonprofit organizations that are moving school-age kids to spend more time every day in organized physical activity.

Falcons Fitness Zones

In Fall 2005, AFYF launched its Signature Program — the Falcons Fitness Zones (FFZ) . Through a partnership with the Metro Atlanta YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County and other select organizations. This program seeks to raise the number of kids spending more time in organized physical activity year-round.

AFYF investments seek to increase opportunities for kids living in five neighborhoods designated as Falcons Fitness Zones. Through the Falcons Fitness Zones, the AFYF works with community partners to leverage existing physical fitness programs for youth, and enhance them through the strategic use of Atlanta Falcons resources.

Grant Opportunities

AFYF makes grants to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate capacity to reduce obesity and improve fitness among school-age children in Georgia. AFYF directs most of its grants to organizations working in close coordination with one another in Atlanta and Gainesville neighborhoods designated as Falcons Fitness Zones. In particular, AFYF looks to invest in innovative ways to move more children from sedentary to active lifestyles. Partners may serve kids at after-school programs or at school during the school day.

AFYF is especially interested in innovations that change the lives of children who traditionally are most likely to miss out or opt out of physical activity. Instead of prescribing particular types of physical activity, AFYF challenges partners to deliver activities that the kids – AFYF’s ‘customers’ – want to do. As a result, AFYF has expanded opportunities for kids to participate in dance, volleyball, jump rope, swimming and mountain biking.

In addition, AFYF makes grants to organizations pursuing innovative ways for Georgia kids and families to gain increased access to healthy, affordable food. Here, AFYF is most interested in efforts that demonstrate promise for large-scale change across Atlanta or the state.

AFYF does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Interested organizations should send a two- or three-page proposal explaining their idea, how the idea builds on partnerships and projects in which AFYF already has invested, how the idea is innovative, and what the effort is likely to cost. From these inquiries, AFYF may invite organizations to submit full applications.

AFYF receives far more inquiries than it can fund. Only a small percentage of ideas submitted ultimately receive grant funding. In reviewing ideas, AFYF may invite organizations to meet with AFYF staff and current grant partners to consider the impact of the proposed work.

AFYF does not make grants:

• for middle school or high school team sports, development of elite athletes, elite sports leagues or travel teams;
• directly to parochial or private schools or public schools and or agencies (booster clubs, PTA or PTO groups), however, community-based non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) designation, who meet all other organizational criteria and that run programs within a public school, may submit an inquiry to run a program within that school;
• to individuals;
• for events;
• to government agencies or municipalities; or
• to serve kids outside of the state of Georgia.

LISC – NFL Grassroots Program

A partnership between the NFL Youth Football Fund and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the NFL Grassroots Program has awarded more than $30 million in grants over 13 years to local nonprofits focused on the health and welfare of their communities, especially the children in their neighborhoods. The latest round of grants supporting new and upgraded fields can be found here.

To learn more about the Grassroots Program and how to apply, please visit the LISC site at http://www.lisc.org/section/ourwork/national/youth.

AFYF – Good Sports Equipment Initiative

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation is partnering with Good Sports on an equipment initiative. Good Sports is a nonprofit organization working to increase participation in youth fitness and recreation programs. Good Sports targets one of the major obstacles that can limit participation: access to sports equipment. In partnership with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Good Sports will be donating equipment to Georgia organizations serving low-income children. Grants will be made in the form of equipment, not cash. Equipment donations are intended to broaden participation in physical activity, not to support top athletes. Equipment donations will target school-age children. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process. Not every applicant organization will receive a donation.

This initiative has a specific focus. It is designed for situations where the equipment donation promises to increase participation in some type of physical activity. This initiative is open to ideas related to most any type of physical activity. Preference will be given to opportunities where equipment donations will lead to increased levels of participation over time, not just for one event or one season. The equipment donation initiative is open to any organization in Georgia.

The Spring 2012 application deadline is December 1, 2011.

Community organizations may apply through the Good Sports web site. A list of donations provided through our third round of awards is available here.

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation honors community partners who go the extra yard in their work advancing the AFYF mission to promote youth fitness and help get Georgia’s kids fit. The first class of Falcons Fitness Zones Heroes are leaders in their respective communities and organizations, and serve as models for the thousands of kids reached through Falcons Fitness Zones programming. Click here for more information (PDF)

• Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Fitness Heroes: Kaamel
• Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Fitness Heroes: Monica
• Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Fitness Heroes: La’Teef
• Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Fitness Heroes: Patt & Linda
• Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Fitness Heroes: Wilkie

FEATURE:

• VIDEO - Record Breakers
• ARTICLE - Falcons Break Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual P.E. Class

Youth Foundation on YouTube

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation is an affiliated fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation