Officers & Board of Directors:
Carl Peterson
Joe Browne
Alexia Gallagher
Merril Hoge
DeMaurice Smith*
Chairman
National Football League
National Football League
Retired NFL Player
NFL Players Association
Scott Hallenbeck*
Tom Cove
Bob Gardner
Desmond Howard
Grant Teaff
Executive Director
SGMA International
Nat’l Federation of State H.S. Assns.
Retired NFL Player
American Football Coaches Association
Ray Anderson
Jim Delany
Roger Goodell*
Mark Meana
Mike Wilcox
National Football League
Big Ten Conference
National Football League
Fairfax County (Va.) Youth Football
Wilcox Financial/Wilcox Sports Management
Jason Belser
Carl Francis
NFL Players Association
NFL Players Association
*Ex-Officio Board Members
USA Football • 45 N. Pennsylvania Street • Suite 700 • Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 • 1.877.5.FOOTBALL • usafootball.com
*** NEWS RELEASE ***
USA FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2012
Youth leagues, middle schools and high schools eligible for $1 million equipment grant program
Youth, middle school and high school football programs can apply for football equipment and uniform grants from USA
Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States. The online application resides at usafootball.com.
Based on merit and need, USA Football awards $1 million annually in football equipment and uniform grants to assist and
further strengthen America’s grassroots football community. USA Football’s grant program has assisted the youth and high
school football programs since 2006 and will have awarded more than $5 million worth of football equipment by the end of
2012. The program is made possible through the NFL Youth Football Fund.
Youth leagues that are 501(c)(3) compliant and schools may submit applications through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 18 at
http://www2.usafootball.com/grants. Applications must be submitted online.
More than 3 million children age 6-14 and 1.1 million high school students play organized tackle football, placing it among the
country’s most popular youth and scholastic participatory sports.
Each selected youth league and middle school program receives a $1,000 package that offers a variety of football equipment
and uniform options. High schools receive similar packages valued at $1,500. Grants are fulfilled by Riddell, the official
helmet and protective equipment partner of USA Football, and Rawlings, the official uniform partner of USA Football.
USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFLPA. The NFL Youth
Football Fund is a nonprofit foundation created by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to promote positive youth
development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and ensure the health of grassroots football.
Effective in 2012, any helmet 10 years old or older will not be reconditioned or recertified by a National Athletic Equipment
Reconditioning Association (NAERA) member. Youth leagues and schools may employ USA Football grants to follow
NAERA’s new football helmet reconditioning protocols.
“USA Football is committed to player safety,” USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. “Our equipment
grants help youth leagues and scholastic programs continue to make positive differences in young people’s lives through
America’s favorite sport. Even with successful fundraisers, some organizations may find challenges in properly equipping
their teams. We’re proud to help ensure great football experiences with support from the NFL Youth Football Fund.”
Independent nonprofit USA Football offers innovative programs and development resources to further strengthen America’s
football community. USA Football members – players, coaches, youth league commissioners and game officials – reside in
all 50 states and 49 foreign countries.
About the NFL Youth Football Fund: Established in 1998 by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the NFL Youth Football Fund
seeks to use football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and
ensure the health of amateur football participation. Through the YFF's youth football initiatives and support programs, young athletes are
provided with opportunities to learn the game of football, get physically fit and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult
mentors. For more information, visit http://www.nflyff.org/.
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 100 football training events
annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league
commissioners. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. Indianapolisbased USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002
through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.