Today, more than 150 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff members participated in the renovation of the Jackson Heights NFL Y.E.T. Center for the team's annual "Hometown Huddle." Now in its 17th year, the NFL-United Way "Hometown Huddle" features a league-wide day of service where NFL teams take part in community-based projects, host youth football clinics and help kids get active for 60 minutes a day as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league's youth health and wellness campaign.
The Buccaneers' day-long service project kicked off with Glazer Family Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz announcing a $200,000 grant through the NFL/LISC Grassroots Program to CAN-DO, Inc., a non-profit organization working in conjunction with the City of Tampa's Parks and Recreation Department. The grant will go towards the installation of a new synthetic turf football field at the community center which will be named "Glazer Family Field." On hand for the presentation were City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Chairman of the United Way Suncoast Tampa Area Board of Directors, Eric Bailey. Throughout the day, more than 150 volunteers contributed to the project.
The Buccaneers teamed up with United Way Suncoast and the City of Tampa for a $250,000 renovation of Jackson Heights NFL Y.E.T. Center.
$200,000 grant presented to CAN-DO, Inc. to install a new synthetic turf football field at the community center
"The Buccaneers take great pride in the work we do to help inspire, equip and celebrate the youth of Tampa Bay," said Glazer Kassewitz. "Children have always been very important to my family and we consider the children of this community part of our extended family as well. We want them to know that they can continue to count on our support."
During today's "Hometown Huddle," the entire Buccaneers business operations staff participated in the renovation, which involved $50,000 in upgrades of the current facility, in addition to the $200,000 grant. The visit including painting, landscaping, and dance/fitness room enhancements, while also interacting with the youth attending the recreation center. The NFL Y.E.T. Center, established in 2001 in East Tampa as part of a legacy project following the 2001 Super Bowl, is home to youth football, school and intramural sport leagues, and summer camp events for the surrounding community.
Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and wellness with partner organizations. PLAY 60 also is implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. All 32 clubs activate PLAY 60 locally, with thousands of NFL PLAY 60 events held annually. To learn more about NFL-United Way partnership or NFL PLAY 60, visit unitedway.org/play60 and NFLRUSH.com/play60, or follow @UnitedWay and @NFLPLAY60 on Twitter.
Now in its 42nd year, the NFL-United Way partnership connects NFL PLAY 60 with United Way's goal to get more young people healthy and active. United Way, which works in 1,200 communities across America, is creating healthier communities by increasing access to nutritious foods for families and increasing opportunities for physical exercise and play.
