ESPN and the College Football Playoff Foundation Celebrate Eight Years Teaming Up in Support of the Extra Yard for Teachers Initiative
INDIANAPOLIS — ESPN and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation are celebrating eight years of supporting educators through their partnership with the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. ESPN is a founding partner of the CFP Foundation, having invested more than $3 million in resources and recognition programs for teachers across the country.
ESPN has joined the CFP Foundation in giving back to the host city’s educators throughout their partnership. This year, ESPN is presenting a $300,000 contribution at the 2022 CFP National Championship that will directly benefit Indianapolis-area schools and teachers. The gift will go towards:
Funding of Indianapolis Public Schools’ projects with a focus on equity. The schools receiving the funds have an enrollment of at least 50 percent African American, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander or multiracial, and at least 50 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch – the standard measure for school economic need.
Funding of professional development for Indianapolis-area teachers and coaches focused on mental health preparation using a sports-based approach, facilitated through the Doc Wayne’s Professional Development Champions Network. This is especially important given the unprecedented challenges teachers and coaches have faced due to the pandemic.
In addition, ESPN and the CFP Foundation co-produced an “Answer the Call” PSA video celebrating teachers to air on its networks, giving special recognition of teachers’ resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic and how they have continued to answer the call. Recognition continues through the annual Great Teachers activation at CFP’s Playoff Fan Central at the Indiana Convention Center, which features opportunities for fans to engage through a football toss as part of the CFP Foundation’s School Bus Activation and a Great Teachers super-hero-themed photo booth.
A special in-game presentation will be held on the field Monday night during the 2022 CFP National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium to celebrate the eight-year partnership. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock will formally present this year’s $300,000 commitment to Indianapolis educators.
The Extra Yard for Teachers initiative is successful in supporting and uplifting teachers by focusing on four major areas: recognition, resources, professional development, recruitment and retention — collectively investing more than $50 million nationally, supporting more than 400,000 teachers.
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About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.
About the College Football Playoff Foundation
The CFP Foundation is the community-engagement 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.
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ESPN Contact: John Manzo at (586) 713-9347; john.manzo@espn.com
College Football Playoff Foundation Contact: Brett Daniels at (214) 437-3603; bdaniels@collegefootballplayoff.com