College Football Playoff Foundation and Florida Citrus Sports Launch $1 Million Initiative to Support Orlando Area Teachers
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION AND FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS LAUNCH $1 MILLION INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ORLANDO AREA TEACHERS
IRVING, Texas – The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Florida Citrus Sports (FCS) announced today the launch of a significant initiative to support Orlando teachers with a joint investment of a minimum of $1 million over the next five years to fund mutually-agreeable projects designed to support teachers and positive student environment. These projects will take place within the footprint of Lift Orlando, a non-profit organization of local business leaders partnering with residents for neighborhood revitalization focused on affordable housing, cradle to career education, health and wellness, and economic viability in the communities surrounding Camping World Stadium.
The initiative extends an already strong partnership between the CFP Foundation and FCS. The two entities have a highly successful history of matching investments to support education as part of Lift Orlando. These investments include the support of early learning opportunities and classroom resources where the needs are the highest.
The CFP Foundation and FCS will each contribute $500,000 to the partnership over the five-year period. FCS will pursue other funding partners in order to grow the aggregate investment and significantly expand impact.
“We are thrilled to launch this significant initiative with Florida Citrus Sports and make a big difference for teachers in the Lift Orlando footprint,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “The results of the investments we have jointly made over the years have been very positive, and now we’re looking to take the effort to the next level.”
“We’re very excited to make an even greater impact on the lives of teachers and students with this new initiative,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. “The partnership with the CFP Foundation has been incredible, and we are thrilled to be able to support the many teachers who shape the futures of children in the Central Florida community through college football.”
“Lift Orlando is excited and grateful for what this partnership between Florida Citrus Sports and the College Football Playoff Foundation will bring to students and teachers in West Lakes,” said Lift Orlando COO Terry Prather. “This gracious investment into educational projects throughout the area will further strengthen the educational pipeline in the neighborhood.”
The initial set of project and efforts around the initiative will include, but not be limited to:
Resources – The partnership will utilize DonorsChoose.org to invest in select classroom project needs to support teachers.
STEM Curriculum – Working with the City of Orlando, the partnership will create a designated space for a STEM Garden, to be used by teachers and students throughout the neighborhood schools to support enhanced STEM (Science, Technology, English and Math) learning, with the curriculum being developed by the teachers.
Recognition – FCS will provide co-promoted teacher recognition opportunities at all FCS sponsored events in the stadium, including in-game presentations and a CFP Foundation permanent display/kiosk area in stadium.
Recruitment – The partnership will identify programs and opportunities to encourage the highest quality, newly-certified student teachers to teach and do their residency in the Lift Orlando footprint.
For more information about the CFP Foundation, visit cfp-foundation.org.
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About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is the community investment 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 cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.
About Florida Citrus Sports
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Camping World Kickoff, the Citrus Bowl, the Camping World Bowl, the Orlando Citrus Parade and the Florida Blue Florida Classic. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
About Lift Orlando
Lift Orlando is a non-profit organization of local business leaders partnering with residents for holistic neighborhood revitalization in the Communities of West Lakes in Orlando, Fla. We achieve this by investing in mixed-income housing, cradle to career education, health and wellness and economic viability. Learn more at www.LiftOrlando.org or follow Lift Orlando (@LiftOrlando) on social media.