Tuesday marked the long awaited dedication of "Glazer Family Field" at the Jackson Heights NFL Y.E.T. Center. The brand new, artificial turf field is part of a renovation project that includes grants and donations from the Buccaneers, the NFL/LISC Grassroots Program, and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation that were administered by the local non-profit organization CAN-DO, Inc.
Established in 2001 from an NFL Super Bowl Legacy Grant, the Jackson Heights Y.E.T. Center features classrooms, a physical fitness zone, a technology lab and now a state-of-the-art synthetic turf field that benefits neighborhood youth by encouraging and facilitating active, healthy lifestyles in a safe and purposeful environment.
Jackson Heights Y.E.T. Center Director Jamal Jefferson commented on how important the new synthetic turf field, and the Jackson Heights Center is to the children of the community. "This is huge! There are not a lot of complexes like the one we have here. The pride and the smiles you see on their faces is priceless. It means so much to them to have a place like this to play, right in their backyard!"
Many special guests were in attendance to celebrate the dedication including Buccaneers players Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries, Clinton McDonald, and Noah Spence. Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Co-President of the Glazer Family Foundation, Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward, and other community leaders were also on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony while local children rushed the field to make the dedication of "Glazer Family Field" official!
Mrs. Glazer Kassewitz spoke about the significance of today's dedication and what it means to the Glazer Family and the Buccaneers. "One of the core beliefs of my entire family is that children can do anything and that family is so important. Today really reflects everything that we fundamentally believe." The hard work and collaboration that went into the completion of "Glazer Family Field" also reflects Bucs for a Better Bay, the Buccaneers far reaching commitment to making Tampa Bay better today and for generations to come. "On behalf of my family and the Buccaneers, we are very interested in doing positive things throughout the community. It is so important to our players and our organization as a whole to be involved in the community and we are so happy to be here."
