CFP Foundation, Big Ten Continue Support In Chicago and New York City

The Big Ten Conference and College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation continue

to enhance the conference’s SCORE Program in Chicago and LINC in New York.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation have jointly announced the continuation of educational partnerships in Chicago and New York City.

“We are excited to continue this partnership between the CFP Foundation and the Big Ten, said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “The effort continues to make a difference in education, supporting deserving teachers and enhancing the valuable learning experiences of the students.”

Genevieve Melody STEM Elementary School

In Chicago, the CFP Foundation continues to assist the Big Ten as it enhances the conference’s SCORE (Success Comes Out of Reading Everyday) Program at the Genevieve Melody STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Elementary School. Since 1990, the Big Ten has partnered with the Melody School to expand and supplement education opportunities to children in the Chicago metropolitan area with the SCORE Program. More than 600 students attend the Melody STEM School ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade with programs centering around reading and educational initiatives.

This year, funds have been used to revamp Melody STEM’s tablet/mobile learning capabilities. The intent is to combine last year’s Classroom Makeover efforts and the tablets to create an interactive, engaging learning environment for the students at Melody, creating learning opportunities that are currently unavailable without the use of technology.

Additionally, funds were utilized to transport SCORE program participants to and from Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games at the United Center in March while providing a meal at the arena. The SCORE program continues to feature Big Ten branded apparel for the students and staff of Melody STEM. The Big Ten also continues the Student of the Month recognition programs, where recipients receive an age appropriate book, a certificate, and a gift card.

Literacy, Inc.

For the third straight year, funds were allocated to support Literacy, Inc. (LINC) in New York City. LINC builds neighborhood networks that support young readers by working with schools, libraries, and community partners, and their community-based strategy targets high-need, high-potential neighborhoods across the city. As part of the program, LINC received 100 tickets for Big Ten Super Saturday – College Hoops and Hockey doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Jan. 26. There are also plans to extend the two-year sponsorship of the organization’s Reading On the Rails and Reading Everywhere Month events.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with the CFP Foundation and Literacy, INC in New York City for the third consecutive year,” Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany said. “We are encouraged to see the strong commitment to developing a love for reading and early childhood literacy through LINC’s many programs throughout the year, and we are excited to support the Reading on the Rails program to promote these efforts during the summer months.”

About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit www.cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.

About the Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.