To help support the next generation of athletes in the region, the Philadelphia Eagles are awarding the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative with $250,000 in funding for a synthetic turf field at West Fairmount Park’s Chamounix Field. The financial contribution has been made possible thanks to the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, a partnership between the NFL Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The field revitalization will receive an additional $200,000 in funding from the Make The World Better Foundation (MTWB), a charitable organization established by Connor Barwin, Eagles Legend and Head of Football Development and Strategy for the team.
Since 1999, the Eagles have contributed more than $3.9 million to help revitalize football fields across Greater Philadelphia through NFL Foundation grassroots and club matching field grants.
“We are proud to support the development of Chamounix Field with a $250,000 grassroots grant,” said Julie Hirshey, Vice President of Community Relations, Philadelphia Eagles. “This financial contribution will help deliver a synthetic turf field to the West Fairmount Park community, providing young athletes with the resources needed to compete in a safe, fun, and constructive environment. It is a privilege to support the mission of the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative and contribute to a project that is going to make an impact in our region for generations to come.”
The NFL Foundation and LISC have partnered for nearly three decades to help young people stay active and healthy by creating safe, accessible places to play through the development of community football fields. Since the program’s inception, more than $70 million has been distributed to community organizations and schools across the country, resulting in the construction or refurbishment of nearly 500 fields nationwide.
“For nearly 30 years, the NFL Foundation and LISC have helped expand access to safe, high-quality places for young people to play, grow, and connect,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and NFL Foundation Executive Director. “Through the Grassroots Field Grant Program, we are proud to support local leaders who are creating healthier communities and opening more pathways for youth to experience the benefits of football.”
LISC identifies local nonprofit and community-based agencies interested in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, local agencies receive 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 for each field.
Chamounix Field will be the third revitalization project in which Barwin and MTWB have partnered with the Eagles.
“The Eagles have been a key partner for MTWB over the years, and we couldn’t have completed our impactful revitalization of Smith Playground and the Vare Recreation Center without their support,” said Barwin. “I’m thrilled to be teaming up again at Chamounix to help the City of Philadelphia create another transformative public space for our youth.”
About NFL Foundation
The NFL 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, visit NFLFoundation.org.
About Local Initiatives Support Corporation
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is one of 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 in 1979, LISC has invested $26.7 billion to create more than 463,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 78.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space. For more information, visit LISC.org.
About Make The World Better Foundation
Connor Barwin and his mother, Margaret, founded the Make The World Better Foundation (MTWB) in 2013 during his first season playing for the Eagles and later teamed up with longtime Philadelphia resident and real estate developer Jeffrey Tubbs. MTWB’s mission is to connect people and inspire stewardship through the revitalization of public spaces. MTWB believes that communities prosper when all people have access to high-quality, public spaces that provide safe outlets for recreation, sports, and arts-based activities. Barwin and MTWB, along with their various project partners, have invested more than $30 million into four park revitalization projects in Philadelphia, including Ralph Brooks Park (Point Breeze), Smith Playground (West Passyunk), Waterloo Playground (Kensington), and the Vare Recreation Center (Grays Ferry). For more information, visit MTWB.org.
About Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative
The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) works to enrich the lives of every child through the power of sports by collaborating with community-based providers and public agencies to foster accessible, sports-based development programs. For more information, visit PYSC.org.