January 26, 2022 – Wellpinit School District has been granted $250,000 by the Seattle Seahawks through the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program for a new synthetic turf field at Wellpinit High School, on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
The grant from the Seahawks, the NFL Foundation, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is part of $6 million in field refurbishment awards allocated this year.
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program – a partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC, the nation's leading community development support organization – has supported the construction or renovation of 416 football fields nationwide since 1998. During that time, the NFL Foundation has granted nearly $58 million to revitalize playing fields in underserved neighborhoods. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.
"We are honored to partner with the Wellpinit School District and the Spokane Tribe of Indians and invest the community's new middle and high school football field, said Brian Surratt, Executive Director, Puget Sound LISC. "The field will be located in the heart of a proud community and will be used by the local football teams, host community youth athletic events, and serve intergenerational programming that will support the Spokane Tribal community's cherished vision to provide their youth with best opportunities for success."
LISC identifies local, nonprofit, community-based agencies that have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their communities. The agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields.
"I am very honored that our Wellpinit School District has received this grant. Our students will have the opportunity to play on a first-class facility and create a focal point for our local youth programs and Tribal community," said Clark Pauls, Wellpinit Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. "With this new stadium, outside communities will get to see how great of a place Wellpinit truly is. Our community and student-athletes deserve a facility like this and we look forward to using it and sharing it."
About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org
About LISC
LISC is one the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and local economies can thrive. Since our founding, LISC has invested $24 billion to create more than 436,320 affordable homes and apartments, develop 74.4 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. For more, visit www.lisc.org.
