ACC Continues Partnership with College Football Playoff Foundation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today its plans to partner with the College Football Playoff Foundation (CFPF) through its Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) initiative during the 2024 football season. The initiatives include support for this year’s Extra Yard for Teachers Week, Big Day for Teachers and the distribution of grant funds to support teachers in Charlotte.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation and shine a well-deserved spotlight on the vital and unwavering efforts of teachers," stated ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "Education remains a cornerstone of the ACC and our now 18 member institutions. We wholeheartedly commend the extraordinary work of teachers and their positive influence on the next generation."

"Our collaboration with the ACC has been outstanding in celebrating teachers and recognizing their importance to our students. Without our wonderful partners throughout the country, we wouldn't be able to support as many teachers and students as we do," CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky said. "We are so grateful for the ACC and the difference it makes for educators."

For the second straight year, the ACC will work with a local Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) to remodel a space that will directly impact the school’s students on a daily basis. Last year, the conference worked with members of the Winding Springs Elementary administration, teachers and staff as they were the recipients of a $50,000 Extra Yard makeover. Additional details on this year’s makeover will be announced in the future.
 
Since the inception of the ACC and CFPF partnership, over $1.2 million has been given to support teachers in the ACC footprint. During the 2023-24 school year, the CFPF and ACC supported over 4,000 students.
 
As part of this year’s Extra Yard for Teachers Week (September 14-21), the conference and its membership will celebrate and recognize teachers through its digital and social platforms, teacher recognition during various college football games, testimonials from coaches and student-athletes about the impact of educators, funding of select DonorsChoose.org classroom project requests and social media activation to engage fans and teachers. As part of Extra Yard for Teachers Week, this year’s Big Day for Teachers will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 17.
 
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 schools, conferences, bowls, ESPN, and education supporters across the country to honor and recognize the meaningful work of teachers for the entire week.

The College Football Playoff Foundation is the largest sports entity in America that is supporting education. Its nationwide Extra Yard for Teachers platform has collectively invested approximately $57 million in support of education. The CFP Foundation 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.

For more information about the CFP Foundation, visit cfp-foundation.org and for more about the Atlantic Coast Conference, visit theACC.com.

About the Atlantic Coast Conference 
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter/X (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).

About the College Football Playoff Foundation
The College Football Playoff 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 nonprofits to support educators and improve U.S. student outcomes. The purpose of the CFP Foundation lies in supporting PK-12 education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four core areas: resources, recognition, professional development, recruitment and retention. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.