The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will join the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida on Friday, September 21, 2001 at 10:00 a.m., at Woodland Acres Boys & Girls Club, 191 Pecan St., Jacksonville, to celebrate the opening of a renovated football field that will serve over 600 youth per year with flag football, soccer, and a range of community events.
Delores Barr Weaver, co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chair and CEO of the Jaguars Foundation, noted, "The Jaguars are proud that the NFL and LISC play a part in creating recreation opportunities for children and youth in Woodland Acres. The Boys and Girls Club is to be congratulated for the hard work they have put into making these renovations a reality."
"This field gives us one more thing to be proud of in the Woodland Acres neighborhood", stated Mike Hackett, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida. "Together with the new basketball and tennis courts, we now have the ability to offer the kids year-round athletic activities as well as the strong educational curriculum already in place."
The renovation of the field was supported in part by a $100,000 grant from the NFL/LISC Community Partnership, which has invested $2.7 million in grants to support community sports facilities in 34 cities.
"Since 1979, LISC has worked to help local neighborhood groups across the country rebuild their communities," said Joni Foster, Program Director, LISC/Jacksonville. "Improving recreational facilities is an essential part of that effort. Healthy neighborhoods need stable housing, quality commercial options, employment opportunities, and safe and decent places where our children can play. LISC is proud to be part of this effort here in Woodland Acres."
The Community Football Fields program is part of NFL Charities Youth Football Fund, a multi-million effort of the NFL in partnership with the NFL Players Association to ensure youth across the country have the opportunity to enjoy the game of football. The Community Football Field program allows the NFL to extend this effort into urban neighborhoods.
Since its creation 20 years ago, LISC has invested $3 billion for the community renewal activity of hundreds of community nonprofits across the country. LISC has used that investment to leverage another $3.5 billion to help groups 100,000 new homes and apartments and 11.3 million square feet of commercial, industrial, retail and community space, including sports fields, daycare centers, shopping centers and health clinics.
