CUSA Announces Plans for Distribution of Grant Funds in Support of Teachers in Conjunction with the College Football Playoff

For Immediate Release

Sept. 19, 2023

Contact: Jordan Stepp (jstepp@c-usa.org)

DALLAS – Conference USA announced today its plans for distributing grant funds this season to support teachers in conjunction with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation through its Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) platform. Tuesday’s announcement is being made as part of the CFP Foundation’s Big Day for Teachers – a day where the college football community comes together to celebrate and honor teachers.

Conference USA received $100,000 in total grant funds from the CFP Foundation this season. Each of CUSA’s nine member institutions will receive $10,000 to be distributed to the PK-12 campus of their choosing. In conjunction with CUSA’s focus on student-athlete mental health, each institution will use its $10,000 to create a mental health space or calming room, or provide mental health resources, for its partner school.

Conference USA will participate in the initiative as well, using $10,000 to partner with Otis Brown Elementary in Irving, Texas, to provide similar mental health services. Additionally, CUSA recognized Brown Elementary third grade ESL teacher Haley Goforth with a $1,000 Donors Choose gift card on the Big Day for Teachers. Brown Elementary created a committee at the school to decide who should be honored on Big Day based on six criteria points, and Goforth was selected as the winner. She joined the Brown Elementary faculty directly upon graduation from college and has overcome some early struggles with adapting to this challenging career, going above and beyond and leaning on her fellow educators for extra help, advice, etc. The staff at Brown Elementary has rallied behind her to help her become the teacher she is now.

The College Football Playoff Foundation is the largest sports entity in America that is supporting education, and its Extra Yard for Teachers platform is successful in supporting and uplifting teachers by focusing on four major areas: recognition, resources, professional development, and recruitment and retention. Since its inception, the CFP Foundation has supported nearly 500,000 teachers nationwide, creating a positive impact for more than 9.2 million students and 50,000 schools. Moreover, the nationwide Extra Yard for Teachers platform has collectively invested approximately $57 million in support of education.

The Big Day for Teachers is part of Extra Yard for Teachers Week (September 15-23, 2023). Created in 2015 as a national celebration of teachers, EYFT Week is supported by the CFP Foundation and its college football partners. The CFP Foundation works in close partnership with the universities, conferences, bowls, ESPN and education supporters across the country to honor and recognize the meaningful work of teachers for the entire week.

“Our partnership with the Conference USA has been simply outstanding in our efforts to support teachers and celebrate their important roles with our children,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “We couldn’t have the nationwide reach we have without our wonderful partners throughout the country. Extra Yard for Teachers Week and the Big Day are incredible efforts when we all come together for teachers and make a real difference. We are so thankful to Conference USA and the difference it is making for educators.”

“Conference USA and our member institutions are proud to promote the CFP Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers program and play a part in providing much-needed support for and recognition of extraordinary teachers across our league footprint,” said CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod. “We are also pleased to use this grant to expand our league-wide focus on mental health awareness by supporting educators and students in our local communities."

For more information about the CFP Foundation, visit cfp-foundation.org

About the College Football Playoff Foundation

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is the 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving as the community engagement arm of the College Football Playoff and works in partnership with institutions of higher education, sports organizations, corporations and non-profits to support educators and improve student outcomes. The purpose of the CFP Foundation lies in supporting PK-12 education by elevating the teaching profession. The CFP Foundation inspires and empowers educators by focusing its work in four areas: recognition, resources, recruitment and retention, and professional development. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.

About Conference USA

Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership, and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to nine schools: FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU. Kennesaw State joins the league in 2024.

-ConferenceUSA.com-