The Jaguars held a pizza and ice-cream sundae party with 250 children at the NFL-YET (Youth Education Town) Boys & Girls Club to celebrate the awarding of $1,250,000 in grants in 2012 to children and youth programs in the greater Jacksonville area.
Team President Mark Lamping noted, "Under the ownership of Shad Khan and his family, the Jaguars are proud to continue the legacy of being a major corporate partner with our nonprofits serving children and families. We wanted to celebrate all the good works and the wonderful kids who are learning and growing every day at the programs we support."
Jaguars players, members of The ROAR of the Jaguars Cheerleaders, along with children from various agencies participated. The children also enjoyed games, face-painting and bounce-houses provided by Pump It Up.
Jaguars Foundation President Peter Racine announced the awarding of 11 grants in the final grant cycle of 2012 to area nonprofit organizations serving economically and socially disadvantaged children and families, bringing the total in grants awarded in 2012 to $1,250,000.
Racine noted that the Jaguars Foundation continues to be strategic in supporting programs that have a long-term positive impact on our community's youth. The Jaguars Foundation's total grant giving since 1995 is more than $16 million for youth-serving programs in the greater Jacksonville area. This level of giving is among the top few of professional sports teams.
Additionally, the team offers the opportunity to nonprofits earn income by providing volunteers to staff stadium concession stands during home games. In 2012, 67 organizations will earn more than $400,000 for their work in the concessions stands.
