College Football Playoff Foundation and Partners to Support Restoration of Historic Eliot Arts Magnet School Following Recent Fires
RVING, Texas – The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, CFP Bowl games, and School Specialty have joined together to pledge a total of $1.5 million towards the restoration of Eliot Arts Magnet School in Altadena, California, which was destroyed by wildfires in January.
The CFP Foundation will pledge a minimum of $1.2 million with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and Allstate Sugar Bowl all contributing to the effort. School Specialty, the CFP Foundation’s partner for its Extra Yard Makeover Project program, will donate an estimated $300,000 to support the needs of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), including Eliot Arts. The initiative will also provide support to McKinley Middle School, where Eliot Arts students are currently relocated.
“We are grateful to have so many generous partners willing to come together to help our friends in Pasadena and at Eliot Arts Magnet School,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation. “It’s a historic moment as all of the CFP Bowls are aligned to support this very important project.”
“The Tournament of Roses is deeply grateful to the College Football Playoff Foundation and our fellow bowl game partners for coming together to support Eliot Arts Magnet School,” said David Eads, CEO, Pasadena Tournament of Roses. “This generous commitment highlights the power of teamwork and the meaningful impact we can make when united by a shared purpose. Eliot Arts holds a special place in our community, and we’re proud to stand with our partners to help restore a space that inspires creativity, learning and hope.”
“It’s a privilege to contribute to the Pasadena Unified School District’s ongoing efforts to empower students and educators. We are proud to support their community as they move forward with strength, unity, and hope,” said Ryan Bohr, CEO of School Specialty.
The historic library at Eliot Arts was initially refurbished in 2023 through a partnership between the CFP Foundation, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®, the Pasadena Educational Foundation, and School Specialty. While the primary exterior structure of the school remained intact following the fires, the interior was severely damaged. In response, the PUSD board passed a resolution in January to rebuild the school.
The CFP Foundation and the Tournament of Roses have long supported PUSD and the Pasadena Education Foundation (PEF), providing teacher grants and library resources over the years. The CFP Foundation entered into a three-year grant agreement with PEF to ensure sustained investment in the restoration of Eliot Arts.
“We are grateful to the College Football Playoff Foundation and its partners for their extraordinary pledge to help restore Eliot Arts Magnet School," said PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco. "This generous support brings hope and momentum to our recovery and reaffirms the power of community partnerships in rebuilding schools that inspire creativity, resilience, and pride."
“Eliot Arts Magnet School has been an important Altadena landmark since its construction nearly a century ago,” said Patrick Conyers, executive director of the Pasadena Educational Foundation. “I am very grateful to the CFP Foundation and its partners for their extraordinary commitment to supporting Eliot Arts Magnet, the Pasadena Unified School District, and our wider community in this time of need.”
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About the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP Selection Committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the season. The 12 playoff participants consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The schools seeded five through eight will host those seeded nine through 12 in first-round games. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.
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 the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential, and a variety of accompanying events. The Association’s 935 Members supply more than 80,000 volunteer hours, which will drive the success of the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda on Thursday, January 1, 2026, followed by the College Football Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. Visit
www.tournamentofroses.com, follow us on Instagram, YouTube and X, and like us on Facebook.
About the Pasadena Unified School District
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) serves PreK-12th-grade students in Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County. With a commitment to academic excellence and cultural responsiveness, PUSD prepares students for success in an ever-evolving world. For more information about the Pasadena Unified School District, visit www.pusd.us.
About School Specialty, LLC
With a 60-year legacy, School Specialty is a leading provider of comprehensive learning environment solutions for the pre-K–12 education marketplace in the U.S. and Canada. This includes essential classroom supplies, furniture and design services, educational technology, sensory spaces featuring Snoezelen®, science curriculum, learning resources, professional development, and more. School Specialty believes every student can flourish in an environment where they are engaged and inspired to learn and grow. In support of this vision to transform more than classrooms, the company applies its unmatched team of subject-matter experts and designs, manufactures, and distributes a broad assortment of name-brand and proprietary products. For more information, go to SchoolSpecialty.com.