Friends of Play It Smart

The National Football Foundation recently announced a $5 million Play It Smart fundraising campaign to ensure the program’s long-term stability. The national campaign relies on the generosity of large and small donors.

“I’m very excited to be the chairman and fundraising person lending my support to this initiative,” said Ronnie Lott, chairman of the Play It Smart National Advisory Board. “I know that Play It Smart is the right vehicle to give back. When one hears the names of those that have contributed – the Peyton Mannings, the Jonathan Ogdens, all the corporations – I hope it resonates with people that they have to get involved; they have to play a role. We’re helping these kids achieve their potential, which is invaluable to our society today.”

Smaller donors are making a difference too. Last year, Joyce Jenkins, the Play It Smart academic coach at Edmondson Westside H.S., in Baltimore, Md. wanted successful role models to speak to her kids.

“Our vice principal put me in contact with someone she knew who had graduated from Edmondson in 1963. He had gone to college and now is a successful entrepreneur,” Jenkins said. “I immediately invited him over to talk to the boys and chat with them about going to college.”

This year, that alumnus donated $500 to Edmondson’s Play It Smart program, a pledge he said he’d honor if a local funeral home that has donated in the past matches his donation. “It helps me a lot as far as other donors,” said Jenkins said. “I plan to use him as an example for others.”

Play It Smart had ambitious goals to expand. It’s why every donation makes a difference.

“We continue to build a broad base of financial support for Play It Smart,” said National Football Foundation President Steven J. Hatchell. “Every category of society has stepped forward, including private individuals, the government, school boards, corporations, foundations and the NFL and NFL Players Association. We need to add to their ranks with both large and small donations.”

Donations to a specific school in our area, or a school you have an affiliation with, make a big difference, and there are many schools that get little or no support. You can make a difference.

“We rely a great deal on our major gifts, but every single dollar we get helps kids, from the $5 donation to the $250,000,” said Play It Smart National Director Charles Gomes. “We have a moral obligation to get out to as many kids as possible. The program works – it’s proven – and we need to do as much fundraising as possible to sustain our current programs and reach new schools.”

Each dollar will impact a school and community both on and off the field. In addition to the training and compensation of the Play It Smart academic coach, contributions cover educational materials, SAT/ACT registration, parent programs, travel to area colleges, awards for outstanding achievement, and much, much more.

YES. I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT PLAY IT SMART. CLICK HERE(pdf)

Please mail this form and your check or credit card information to:
The National Football Foundation
433 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1130
Irving, TX, 75039

For more information please call 1-800-486-1865.

Play It Smart Major Donors
The following individuals and organizations have provided major financial support for the Play It Smart program and the NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport at Springfield College. The NFL and the NFL Players Association have established a special relationship with the Play It Smart program, having provided over $7.97 million to ensure that at least one high school in each NFL franchise city has the advantage of a Play It Smart academic coach. Cost per school currently stands at $27,000 per year. Throughout the country, Play It Smart reaches more than 12,000 student-athletes at 136 schools in 85 cities in 35 states, just a small fraction of those who could benefit from an academic coach. To be successful, we need grassroots support in your community.

Please join us in adding to our numbers.

ORGANIZATIONS

The NFL

The NFL Players Association

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Aeropostale

Alliance City Schools (Ohio)

Bethesda School for Boys (Ga.)

Chandler School District (Ariz.)

Convergys Foundation, Inc.

East Orange School Board (N.J.)

Florida Citrus Sports Foundation

Heisman Trophy Trust

IDT Charitable Foundation

Ivy Football Association

Jewish Communal Fund

K-Life Program

Knoxville Public Schools (Tenn.)

Maple Heights School Board (Ohio)

MCJ Foundation

Miami Dolphins Foundation

NCAA Football

New Balance Foundation

New Brunswick Board of Education (N.J.)

New Haven Public Schools (Conn.)

New Orleans Saints

NFF East Tennessee Chapter

Philadelphia School District (Pa.)

PPG Foundation

Prudential Foundation

PSE&G

Springfield College Americorps

Springfield Public Schools (Mass.)

The Daniels Fund

The Miami Dolphins Foundation

Tisch Foundation

Topeka School District (Kan.)

Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation

Wein Foundation

 

INDIVIDUALS

Clayton I. Bennett

William V. Campbell

Paul Choquette, Jr.

Jeff Cooney

Jana H. Cruthfield

Terrence D. Daniels

Jon F. Hanson

Donald R. Keough

Frank A. Kessler

Howard E. Kramer

Alex S. Kroll

John F. McGillicuddy

Edward F. McGinley III

William G. Morton, Jr.

Joseph C. Palumbo

James E. Ukrop