NFL charities annual report

Transcription

1 NFL charities annual report

2 For the National Football League, the game of football is about more than making plays on the field. It is about making them off the field as well. Our commitment to fans and the communities that support us does not end when the final seconds tick off the game clock. For NFL teams and players, service is a fundamental responsibility that has grown over the decades. It is reflected in many ways. It is NFL teams and players reaching out through NFL Charities, the non-profit foundation that grants nearly $10 million each year towards such initiatives as the league s commitment to the health and fitness of the next generation and to new research in the field of sports medicine. It is the NFL s proud partnership with the USO in support of our nation s troops overseas, which is now in its fifth decade. It is the growing number of NFL Youth Education Towns (YET), each a permanent legacy of the Super Bowl, with each YET serving as a safe place where young people can learn and grow. It is the national public service television campaign with the United Way promoting volunteerism, now in its 35th year. It is also the unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of the retired players who built our sport. During the season, many players spend their day off working in communities, a tradition known as NFL Tuesdays. Players volunteer each week at local schools, shelters, and hospitals, helping out in ways large and small. Each year, the NFL conducts a national league-wide day of service known as Hometown Huddle on a Tuesday in October. The NFL has long been about football, community, and kids. We hope that you will join the NFL, our teams, and players in reaching out and strengthening communities throughout the country. We appreciate your support. Roger Goodell - NFL Commissioner & President, NFL Charities Message from the Commissioner

3 NFL Charities is a non-profit organization created by the member clubs of the National Football League to enable the teams to collectively make grants to charitable and worthwhile causes on a national scale. Since its inception, NFL Charities has granted more than $110 million to more than 300 different organizations. NFL Charities primary funding categories include: Sports-related medical research studies Player foundation grants in support of the philanthropic work of current and former NFL players Youth health and fitness initiatives, including educational programs with national partners Supplementing the charitable activities of the 32 NFL clubs Financial assistance to former NFL players in need Mission

4 Medical Research Grants Player Foundation Grants Youth Health and Fitness Youth Education Towns Volunteer Programs Retired Players Assistance Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year NFL Teacher of the Year Pro Bowl Outreach United Way Military Support/USO Funding NFL Team Programs Board of Directors Financials Contents

5 NFL Charities allocates $1.5 million annually in grants for medical research in areas including sports injury prevention, innovations in injury treatment, and other related issues that affect the health and performance of athletes. When Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI) during the first game of the season, he received unprecedented on-field treatment which ultimately allowed him to walk again within a few short months. Kevin s recovery has been a testimonial to the power of sports medicine. One of the sixteen medical research projects funded by NFL Charities in 2007 was a study by the University of Miami - Miami Project to Cure Paralysis - to examine the effectiveness of an experimental model of spinal cord treatment including induced hypothermia. The Miami Project envisions this therapy potentially evolving a new standard of treatment that could one day consistently achieve success in this area. Another important medical research focus for NFL Charities in 2007 was in the prevention and treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. ACL injuries are one of the most common injuries in athletics. In the NFL, ACL injury can jeopardize careers and leave athletes suffering from its damage as long as 12 years later. In an effort to prevent and treat ACL injuries, grants were made to Cincinnati Children s Hospital, Columbia University and the University of Florida to explore valuable research on the evaluation of post-surgery arthritic joint changes; potential mechanisms for regenerating fibrocartilage between soft tissue and bone; and rehabilitation programs to protect cartilage and facilitate longevity. Medical Research Grants NFL Charities is committed to supporting scientific research that benefits everyone involved in the game of football, competitive sports, and recreational athletics. 01

6 NFL Charities awards $1 million in grants each year to further the charitable efforts of current and former NFL players who have established non-profit organizations. In 2007, NFL Charities funded 77 player foundations. Each year, foundations performing extraordinary charitable services are recognized with Player Impact Grant Awards and receive maximum funding. There were five Player Impact Awards in 2007 which are detailed below Player Impact Awards The Brees Dream Foundation is a nonprofit founded by Drew Brees, whose mission is to help find a cure for cancer while improving the quality of the lives of patients who are living with the disease. This organization also provides scholarship programs, conducts educational events and has built highly successful partnerships in the Greater New Orleans area to help rebuild the Gulf Coast and support the youth who suffered trauma as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The mission of the Junior Seau Foundation is to empower young people and provide child abuse prevention and awareness programs in Junior s hometown of San Diego. In 2007, the foundation awarded over $65,000 in scholarships for outstanding youth in San Diego to pursue higher education. Through its trademarked Shop with a Jock program, Junior Seau teams up each year with corporate sponsors and local youth-serving organizations to give 200 children the opportunity to shop for gifts during the holidays alongside NFL Players. Junior also opens the restaurant that he owns in San Diego, SEAU S, to serve Thanksgiving dinner to 650 families every year. Pictured: Former LB Junior Seau with kids from the Junior Seau Foundation. Player Foundation Grants 02 NFL Charities supports current and former NFL players working to give back to their communities.

7 The Brian Waters 54 Foundation focuses on providing opportunities for underprivileged children and families with a goal of breaking the cycle of poverty in their lives. By providing scholarships, school supplies and uniform giveaways, this foundation teaches that education, goal-setting, and teamwork are vital to economic and social success. While Brian plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, ties to his hometown in Texas remain strong. In June 2007, Brian brought 20 kids from The Promise House in Dallas, Texas, on a field trip to Kansas City - linking his commitment to the youth in both of his home communities. This field trip was documented by NFL Films and highlighted in one of the NFL-United Way Public Service Announcements (PSAs) during the 2007 season. Jim Kelly s Hunter s Hope Foundation funds research related to curing Krabbe disease and other leukodystrophy and blood disorders. The foundation lobbies for expanded newborn screenings of these diseases because when detected early, there are effective treatments. Due to the tireless lobbying by Jim and his wife Jill, New York became the first and only state to test for leukodystrophies at birth in August House of Isaiah/Athletes for a Drug-Free America was founded eighteen years ago by NFL alumni, Isaiah Robertson. The organization runs a long-term residential drug and alcohol recovery program for young men between the ages of 16 and 40. This organization is also dedicated to providing quality care to chemically dependent individuals with the necessary tools to live productive and sober lives. Pictured: Colts Safety Bob Sanders with youth at his annual football camp. 03

8 A rise in obesity rates among today s youth as well as the decline of physical education programs in schools across the country has prompted the NFL to take a leadership role in the movement to get youngsters physically fit. In October 2007, NFL Charities launched NFL Play 60, a national youth health and fitness campaign focused on increasing the health and wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. NFL Play 60 brings together the NFL s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with an impressive roster of partner organizations who all work to make the next generation active and healthy. In addition to its national reach through PSAs and online programs, Play 60 is also implemented at the grassroots level through NFL s in-school, after-school and team-based programs such as What Moves U. In conjunction with the launch of NFL Play 60, NFL Charities helped 28 teams build Youth Fitness Zones in their communities in 2007, providing new places for kids to be active. The fitness zone projects were part of the NFL s annual Hometown Huddle, a league-wide day of service in partnership with the United Way. This initiative also comes to life in prominent ways during the NFL s key calendar events, which include the NFL Draft, Kick Off, Thanksgiving, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. In conjunction with the 2008 NFL Draft, a 2-day Youth Football Festival was held in Central Park. The event brought current NFL players as well as the top NFL draft prospects to the playing field with 1,000 New York City students, teaching the importance of being active and living a healthy lifestyle. Similar festivals are held at other NFL events throughout the year. Pictured: 2008 NFL Draft prospects give tips at a NFL Play 60 event in Central Park, New York. Youth Health and Fitness 04 NFL Charities promotes the physical health and well-being of our most valuable asset America s youth.

9 What Moves U is one of the feature programs within the NFL Play 60 campaign. Developed in 2006 by NFL Charities and the American Heart Association, What Moves U is a school-based program and awareness campaign designed to promote physical fitness and healthy living. What Moves U incorporates several key elements: an in-school activity kit created for teachers, by teachers; program-specific learning materials and school promotional materials; an interactive fitness-focused website for children; and community outreach events coordinated by NFL teams and American Heart Association affiliates. Unique to physical fitness programs for students, What Moves U helps teachers of various academic disciplines find ways to integrate physical activity into existing academic lesson plans. More than 25,000 middle schools nationwide received the activation kits in 2006 and At the start of the 2008 academic year, the What Moves U Challenge launched in team markets. The Challenge is a 6-week period of time during which teachers and students work together to ensure that everyone gets 60 minutes of activity per day. While the Challenge itself lasts only 6 weeks, the goal is to help schools create an active and healthy lifestyle for kids that will last a lifetime. A national public awareness campaign including television, radio and print PSAs has been a part of this campaign since its inception. Pictured: Cardinals QB Kurt Warner leads a What Moves U event during Super Bowl week. 05

10 NFL Youth Education Towns (YETs) are education and recreation centers constructed in Super Bowl host cities that serve as a lasting legacy of each game. With each Super Bowl, the NFL donates $1 million towards YET development in an underserved area of that city. The Super Bowl host committee works to gain local public and private support to match the NFL s investment; the NFL also requires each host city to establish a 10-year operating and fundraising plan to ensure that each YET remains viable in their communities long after the Super Bowl has been played. When a Super Bowl returns to a city that already has a YET from a previous game, the NFL s $1 million contribution is reinvested in the existing center. This was the case with Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, where the NFL donated $1 million to its Phoenix-based YET to fund capital improvements, a multi-media center, and a football field. Presently, there are 14 YETs in 11 cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston (2), Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Diego (2) and Tampa (2). The newest YET is currently under construction in Honolulu, Hawaii, home of the Pro Bowl. YET facilities vary, but all provide educational programs, access to physical fitness and personal development programs, recreation opportunities, technology and many other resources. NFL Charities partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America on the YET initiative to ensure that all centers offer programs and services that effectively meet the needs of youth in the areas of education, technical training, life-skills development, and recreation. Highlights in 2007 and 2008 Each year NFL Charities allocates $500,000 toward YET program intiatives. In 2007 these funds were directed to the installation of NFL Play Action Training Systems (powered by HOPSports) at each YET location. NFL Play Action is an interactive video technology Pictured: Miami YET dance group with first place trophy from the Dade County Dance Competition. Youth Education Towns 06 By providing educational enrichment and leadership training we strengthen America s future.

11 system aimed at engaging kids in physical activity. By using cutting-edge media to implement current exercise trends as well as supporting the required state and national curriculum guidelines in physical education for youth, this investment continues to promote the NFL s commitment to youth health and fitness. The NFL Play Action system includes over 75 lesson plans, covering a wide range of sports and activities and is customized with NFL content, game highlights and NFL Films music. Each system comes with a computer/video system, fitness equipment and individual heart rate monitors for up to thirty students per session as well as an automated external defibrillator (AED). Another exciting development in 2008 was the long-awaited groundbreaking at the site of YET Hawaii. This facility will officially open during Pro Bowl week in February 2009 and will serve as a lasting commitment to Hawaiian youth for years to come. As a legacy from Super Bowl XXXIX, the NFL, donors from the Jacksonville community, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, along with Mayor Peyton and owners of the Jacksonville Jaguars, celebrated the official opening of Jacksonville s Youth Education Town in March, This NFL YET will serve children from the Jacksonville Housing Authority s $20 million Hope VI project, 96 HabiJax homes, and children from surrounding neighborhoods, serving as an integral element of the revitalization of the Brentwood community. NFL YET Across America is an academic enrichment program developed and funded by NFL Charities that allows all students across the national YET network to study a particular subject matter over the course of a semester. The fourth and final curriculum component of the Learn Across America program focused on science and outer space and culminated in February, 2008, with a field trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Each YET sent two of its highest achieving youth on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Pictured: Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware visits with YET youth. 07

12 The NFL Tuesdays program raises awareness for volunteerism and the charitable activities of NFL players who place great importance on giving back to the community during their time away from the playing field. Tuesday is the traditional day off for players during the season. On any given Tuesday during the season, NFL players can be found working in soup kitchens, reading with elementary school children, coaching at middle and high school football clinics, or listening to a child with a question or a problem. The NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle is an NFL-wide day of service, held one Tuesday in October each year. This program highlights significant involvement of NFL players, coaches, staff, and wives who participate in a variety of community service activities. Hometown Huddle activities in recent years have included building homes for low-income families, serving food to the homeless and visiting local military bases. In 2007, NFL Charities integrated its focus on youth health and fitness into Hometown Huddle by encouraging teams to use this day of service to build new places for youth to be active. The resulting Youth Fitness Zone initiative launched nationally with a playground build with the New Orleans Saints, and 27 other teams creating new play spaces for kids in their local communities. NFL Fitness Zones take many shapes and sizes: playgrounds, gymnasium refurbishments, activity trails, and interactive fitness technology installations are among these projects. NFL Charities and the NFL clubs continue to develop Youth Fitness Zones as part of Hometown Huddle NFL Charities continues to award funding to clubs to honor community volunteers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their communities. One of the leading initiatives in this area are the Community Quarterback and Student All Star Awards, in which monetary donations are made in the award winner s name to the non-profit organizations they serve. Pictured: Saints CB Mike McKenzie helps kids build a youth fitness zone during Hometown Huddle, Volunteer Programs 08 Players and fans committed to their local communities help build a promising tomorrow.

13 NFL Charities supports the NFL Players Association s Player Assistance Trust (PAT) through an annual grant of $1.25 million. In addition, one-quarter of the on-field fine money collected each year from NFL players is donated through NFL Charities to the Players Assistance Trust. In total, nearly $2 million was donated from NFL Charities to the Players Assistance Trust in 2007 to support retired players who have fallen on hard times. In May 2007, the NFL, NFL Players Association, NFL Retired Players Association and the Pro Football Hall of Fame committed to further support retired players by forming the NFL Alliance and the Player Care Foundation with the support of NFL Charities. This partnership is focused on providing nationally-coordinated medical support for former players in need. The formation of the Alliance and this non-profit immediately streamlined the process for retired players who are vested in their retirement plan to receive disability benefits through an expedited process. In October, team owners approved directing $10 million in additional funds to the NFL Alliance, establishing a new benefit to assist eligible retired players to receive joint replacement surgeries if performed at one of 14 leading medical centers across the country. This coordinated care program includes financial assistance to all players that would cover the cost of any necessary football-related surgery. Through the Alliance, the Player s Care Foundation and the PAT, the NFL and NFL Charities continue to assist former players in addressing medical issues and other financial constraints that they may face during retirement. Pictured Right: Gene Upshaw, the visionary and iconic 25-year leader of the NFL Players Association, 12-year Oakland Raider, 7-time Pro Bowler, only player in NFL history to play in 3 Super Bowls in 3 different decades (1960s, 70s and 80s) and a first year eligible enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1987). Retired Players Assistance Caring for those who helped build the game and lay the foundation for success and glory. 09

14 The prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award is unique among NFL honors. It is the only award that recognizes a player for outstanding community service activities as well as for excellence on the field. The award has been given annually since 1970 and is administered by NFL Charities. It was renamed in 1999 after the late Walter Payton, legendary Chicago Bears running back. Recent winners include Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, and Warrick Dunn. Past winners include many of the league s greatest players, 13 of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2007, for the first time, all four finalists for this prestigious award were recognized at the Super Bowl. Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys, Brian Waters of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. All represent the very best of the NFL and were honored for their on and off-the-field accomplishments. Jason Taylor was ultimately named the national winner and was presented the trophy by Commissioner Goodell and Connie Payton in an on-field ceremony just prior to kickoff of Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. Jason Taylor has focused his outreach work on supporting children in need with programs that help improve health care, education and quality of life. He and his wife, Katina, established the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004 which reaches thousands of youngsters through opportunities like the Jason Taylor Reading Room, Camp Katina-Cartwheels to Character program and the Jason Taylor Children s Learning Center at Holtz Children s Hospital. Pictured: Dolphins DE Jason Taylor received the 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year award on the field at Super Bowl XLII. Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year 10 Recognizing excellence on and off the field, there is no greater distinction that an NFL player can achieve.

15 In 1990, the NFL created the NFL Teacher of the Year award to honor outstanding teachers who inspired the educational and life skills development of NFL players. Players from all 32 teams submit essays to nominate teachers who inspired them to pursue excellence in life. NFL Charities facilitates this program and a panel of educators and civic leaders select the winning teacher from the pool of nominations. Panelists include Commissioner Roger Goodell; former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue; Congressman Gary Ackerman; Congressman Michael Honda; Edward J. McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers; and Aaron Craver and Randall McDaniel, both former NFL players who are currently teachers. Each year, the winning teacher is awarded a $2,500 prize, as well as a $5,000 grant for his or her school through NFL Charities. The honoree also travels to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii as a guest of the NFL, where the nominating player officially presents the winning teacher with the Teacher of the Year Award during an on-field ceremony. Jacquelyn Stevens, an English teacher for 30 years at Washington-Marion Magnet School in Lake Charles, LA, was named the 2007 NFL Teacher of the Year. Former Kansas City Chiefs WR Eddie Kennison nominated Mrs. Stevens. In his nomination essay Kennison wrote of Mrs. Stevens, Her unquestioned gift as a teacher and ability to ignite a spark that quickly grew into a passion for learning helped me in the classroom, during my athletic endeavors and, most importantly, in my life! Simply put, she understood what it took to become successful and easily relayed that information. Stevens learned of her selection for the award when Kennison surprised her at a school assembly with the good news. Eddie frequently visits with Mrs. Stevens classes. Pictured: Former Chiefs WR Eddie Kennison & Mrs. Jacquelyn Stevens. NFL Teacher of the Year Honoring those who made a lasting impact on the educational and personal development of NFL players. 11

16 The NFL s all-star game has been played in Honolulu since With each visit to Hawaii for the AFC / NFC Pro Bowl, the NFL looks to strengthen its commitment to the people of Hawaii. During Pro Bowl week, the NFL conducts a series of community outreach programs, including NFL Play 60 festivals in schools and parks around Oahu, player visits to hospitals and military bases, and a football skills competition for local Special Olympics athletes. NFL Charities also hosts a group of kids and their families through the Make-A-Wish foundation. This special group joins Pro Bowl players at a private game practice, and is treated to a dedicated autograph session. NFL Charities allocates $100,000 in grants each year to Hawaiian non-profit organizations in celebration of the Pro Bowl. The recipient organizations must be focused on youth health or education programs. In 2007, there were 17 grant recipients, including the Marimed Foundation, which has provided ocean-based experiential education and therapy including outrigger canoe paddling for Hawaii s at-risk youth for over 15 years; the Hawaii Armed Services YMCA, which provides important youth programs and valuable support to the numerous military families stationed in Hawaii; and the Waikiki Community Center, providing excellent youth programs and childcare for parents working in the vast Hawaiian tourism industry. In 2007, the NFL broke ground in Nanakuli, Hawaii on its newest Youth Education Town. This special YET is dedicated to our Pro Bowl host community in Honolulu and will serve children and families in Oahu as the most comprehensive structure in the YET family. This multi-purpose facility is being designed as the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified green building in Hawaii and is on target to open in June 2009 with Gold certification. Pictured: Marimed Foundation puts its leadership development program to work on land and at sea. Pro Bowl Outreach 12 Supporting our all-star hosts in Hawaii.

17 The NFL season marks the 35th year of collaboration between the National Football League and the United Way. Together, the NFL and the United Way have changed the landscape of corporate/non-profit community partnerships. During its long partnership, over 1,000 NFL-United Way television messages have aired during NFL games, making it the longest-running public service ad campaign in television history. These public service announcements reach more than 120 million viewers per week via airtime furnished by the NFL at no cost to the United Way. With help from the NFL, United Way fundraising has soared from $800 million to more than $4 billion. In three decades of working with the United Way, said Commissioner Roger Goodell, we have shown how NFL players, coaches and owners serve their communities in order to inspire others to join in volunteering to make a difference. Starting with the 2007 season, United Way television spots feature players volunteering in their communities and running fitness programs for youth, as cameras traveled with them on their off-days. Moving forward, the campaign will continue to document players at local community service events with a particular focus on youth health and fitness, tying the NFL-United Way PSA series into the league s broader NFL Play 60 campaign. Pictured: Youth activities at a Redskins fitness event. United Way The most visible and longest-running public service partnership of its kind. 13

18 In 1965, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, seeking ways to demonstrate the league s support for America s fighting forces, conceived the idea of sending NFL players to Vietnam on goodwill tours. The following year, the NFL teamed with the USO and became the first sports organization to send a group of players to Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Over the past four decades, NFL stars Terry Bradshaw, Dick Butkus, Larry Csonka, Don Meredith, Mike Singletary and Johnny Unitas have visited troops on NFL-USO tours in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, and Somalia. In March 2008, defensive ends Luis Castillo and Mike Rucker, defensive tackle Tommie Harris, and Sports Illustrated/NBC journalist Peter King teamed up to meet and greet the troops at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan during a 9-day goodwill tour. I have always supported our military, Mike Rucker said. It has now taken on a new meaning for me. I have seen first-hand how our brave men and women serve our country - with honor, hard work, pride and unparalleled commitment. This was a humbling experience and proud moment all rolled up in sincere gratitude. The NFL participated in a second USO tour in July 2008, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora participated on a seven-day, three-country summer USO tour led by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. The group visited Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan thanking thousands of troops for their service. Also participating in this trip were two members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, true-life We are Marshall football coach, Jack Lengyel, and Heroes actor Milo Ventimiglia. Pictured: Bears DT Tommie Harris, former Panthers DE Mike Rucker and Chargers DE Luis Castillo with troops during their 2008 NFL/USO tour. Military Support/USO 14 The NFL s proud partnership with the USO is in its fifth decade. Both organizations support our nation s troops, who sacrifice for our freedom.

19 The NFL s member clubs serve as the primary funding source for NFL Charities. Each season, $8 million of the league s national revenue is directed to NFL Charities to fund philanthropic projects on a national level. Other funding sources for NFL Charities include NFL Auction, player and coach fine money, and fundraising events. NFL Auction is a league website that allows fans to bid on autographed NFL memorabilia, with all proceeds going to charity. In 2007, NFL Auction generated more than $1.4 million for NFL team and league charitable initiatives. Grant recipients for funds generated by the sale of league merchandise are designated through NFL Charities and in 2007 these included: Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The American Cancer Society, United Way, KaBoom!, and the NFL Youth Education Towns. Money generated from disciplinary fines of players and coaches has traditionally been donated to charitable causes through NFL Charities. On-field player fine money has netted over $2 million per year for charity in each of the past three years. One-quarter of this annual fine money supports former players in need through the NFL Player Association s Players Assistance Trust (PAT). Last year, that amount totaled more than $650,000. Other organizations that receive annual funds through NFL Charities from the player fine pool include the Brian Piccolo Memorial Fund and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. Celebrity golf and bowling tournaments are hosted each year in conjunction with the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. All proceeds from these events go to NFL Charities. In 2007, NBC Television s Deal or No Deal game show promoted a special episode featuring the NFL. Proceeds from this show totaled over $50,000 and were directed to NFL Charities. Pictured: Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan signs autographs to benefit NFL Charities. Funding Focusing resources to accomplish more. 15

20 NFL Charities supports the community initiatives of the 32 clubs by providing $1.5 million in team program grants annually. These grant dollars fund the national initiatives that are implemented in local markets by each team. The team program grant money generally focuses on the NFL s movement to make youth active and healthy. Pictured: Redskins WR Santana Moss shows kids how to stretch before becoming physically active. NFL Team Programs 16 Every NFL team is dedicated to its community and helping those in need.