USA FOOTBALL AND GOOD SPORTS PARTNER TO DELIVER MORE THAN $450,000 IN NEW EQUIPMENT TO YOUTH PROGRAMS MOST IN NEED

INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, and Good Sports, a nationally-recognized youth sports non-profit that drives equitable access in youth sports and physical activity, are partnering to deliver more than $450,000 in youth football equipment packages for children nationwide.

Thousands of children across 57 youth football organizations in high-need communities spanning 30 states now have the opportunity to enjoy the fun and fitness of football through this partnership and its awarded equipment packages.

USA Football and Good Sports’ partnership represents an expansion of USA Football’s annual grant program, which awarded more than $2 million in equipment and other resources to youth football programs in 2021.

The USA Football-Good Sports equipment distribution program is made possible through the NFL Foundation. The NFL Foundation is the league's nonprofit organization representing the 32 NFL clubs. Its mission is to support the health, safety, and wellness of athletes, youth football, and communities which support the game. 

“Good Sports and USA Football are trusted members of the youth sports family,” said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy & NFL Foundation Executive Director ALEXIA GALLAGHER. “The NFL Foundation supports their work to help ensure that underserved youth have the opportunity to experience the fun and fitness that playing football delivers.”

For many families, the cost of equipment, apparel and footwear is a significant barrier for kids in need. Through this partnership, youth, middle school and high school football programs that meet Good Sports’ criteria applied for equipment packages this past summer.

Programs that serve high-need populations and qualify for equipment grant awards were able to choose between four different kits based on their program’s needs, which included 24 different pieces of equipment such as footballs, mouthguards, cleats, training equipment, uniforms and pads. By providing kids in need with the resources to play football, more of them will be able to confidently participate in the sport, learn the importance of teamwork, and have fun.

"We're proud to partner with Good Sports to advance our work for kids nationwide through the fun of football," USA Football CEO SCOTT HALLEBECK said. "More than ever, for many reasons, our children need the fitness, enjoyment, social connections, and community that are all found within our game. Our work with Good Sports is another way how we embody our mission of 'Football For All.'"

“We’re excited to partner with USA Football to help ensure children in need have the opportunity to play football and be active,” said MELISSA HARPER, CEO and Co-Founder of Good Sports. “With these kits, we are supplying much needed equipment to deserving football organizations, serving nearly 27,000 youth athletes across the country.”

Director at Break The Cycle Recovery Foundation, located in Phoenix, Arizona, who received a donation through this partnership said, “Good Sports’ and USA Football’s generosity with their donations has made a huge impact on our program and community. We’ve been able to use these donations to impact the local youth and allow our program to continue to be free of charge to any children under the age of 14.”

Treasurer at Tri-County Cobras Youth Football and Cheer, Inc, located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, also received a donation through this partnership and shared, “As a not-for-profit organization, the donation of apparel and equipment has allowed us to use our limited resources in other areas of our program, and to be able to provide more opportunities for the youth in the communities we serve to play football without the financial burden for those less fortunate.”

Youth football organizations receiving a USA Football-Good Sports equipment package:

Alabama

• Mobile                               Palmer Williams Group
• Montgomery                    Montgomery Dolphins, Inc.

Arizona

• Phoenix                            Break the Cycle Recovery Foundation

California

• San Jose                            San Jose Police Activities League
• Victorville                         Victorville Warriors Youth Organizations

Colorado

• Colorado Springs            Hanover School District 28
• Denver                              Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver

Florida

• Jacksonville                     Lakeshore Athletic Association
• Lakeland                           Future Stars United Seminoles Football & Cher
• Macclenny                        Baker County Touchdown Club
• Miami                                Miami Police Athletic League
• Newberry                          Newberry Parks & Recreation
• Port St. Lucie                   Tri-County Cobras Youth Football and Cheer, Inc.
• Riviera Beach                  Palm Beach Rams Football and Cheerleading
• Sanford                             West Sanford Eagles

Georgia

• Cartersville                      City of Cartersville Parks & Recreation
• Fort Stewart                     Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Youth Sports and Fitness

Hawaii

• Hilo                                    Keaukaha Warriors Football Association

Iowa

• Cedar Rapids                   Eastern Iowa NFL FLAG League  

Idaho

• Caldwell                            Exchange Football League

Illinois

• Beecher                            BMW Elite Sports
• Freeport                           Freeport Youth Football
• Rockford                           Northwest Knights Jr. Tackle Football

Indiana

• Fort Wayne                       Police Athletic League of Fort Wayne

Kansas

• Kansas City                       KC United! Youth Sports & Education Initiative

Kentucky

• Alexandria                        Campbell County Red Devils Athletic Club, Inc.

Louisiana

• Baton Rouge                    Baton Rouge Youth Sports Alliance
• Monroe                             Southern Youth Movements

Michigan

• Detroit                              West 7 Rams Greater Metro Youth Sports
• Kalamazoo                       Kalamazoo Jaguars
• Ypsilanti                           Ypsilanti Panthers Football & Cheer Team

Minnesota

• Saint Paul                         Westside Boosters Youth Athletic

Missouri

• Springfield                       Midwest Defender Athletics
• St. Louis                            Saint Louis Saints Youth Football
• St. Louis                            B2B Mentor Program

Mississippi

• Centreville                       Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network
• Greenville                        Dlumps Delta Football League

North Carolina

• Clinton                              Sampson County Parks and Recreation
• Pleasant Hill                    Halifax Northampton Midget Football League

New York

• Brocton                             Brocton Portland Midget Football

Ohio

• Euclid                                Euclid Youth Football
• Lorain                               Lorain Raging Titans Youth Football and Cheer
• Massillon                          Boys & Girls Clubs of Massillon, Inc.
• Springfield                       Springfield Southwest Titans

Oklahoma

• Tulsa                                  Tulsa Yellowjackets

Pennsylvania

• East Lansdowne              South Philadelphia Hurricanes
• Sunbury                            Heartland Youth Football League

Rhode Island

• Providence                      Providence Patriots

Tennessee

• Corryton                           Central Youth Athletic Association
• Memphis                           901 Memphis Elite

Texas

• Galveston                         Galveston Hurricanes
• Iowa Colony                     The Developmental Football League-Houston Pop Warner
• Texas City                         LMTC Vikings

Utah

• Ogden                               Riders Athletics

Virginia

• Roanoke                           Vinton Booster Club

Wisconsin

• Oshkosh                            Oshkosh Eagles Football Club

West Virginia

• Logan                                Coalfield Youth Sports, Inc.

                                                                                              #            #            #

About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance, unify and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the United States’ sole delegate to the International Federation of American Football, USA Football assembles and directs U.S. National Teams for international competition. The independent non-profit also partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players. Visit usafootball.com to learn more.

About Good Sports: Good Sports drives equitable access in youth sports and physical activity, by supporting children in high-need communities to achieve their greatest potential, on the field and in life.  Since 2003, Good Sports has provided nearly $81 million in sports equipment, impacting over 9 million kids from more than 5,500 youth programs across the country. Good Sports has been awarded a coveted 4-star rating eight consecutive times from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management, transparency, and accountability.  Additionally, Good Sports holds the top-level Platinum seal from GuideStar, and is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity. To learn more or to get involved, please visit www.goodsports.org and follow us on Facebook @GSportsInc, Twitter @goodsportsinc, Instagram @goodsportsinc and LinkedIn @Good Sports, Inc.

About The NFL Foundation: The National Football League 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. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.