ATLANTA – In partnership with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Atlanta Falcons are furthering their support for high school football across Georgia through two new initiatives. In 2025, every Georgia high school will be eligible to receive a grant to either launch a girls flag football program or support its existing program for the upcoming 2025 season. Additionally, Georgia high school tackle football programs will have the opportunity to receive up to 50 Guardian Caps per school in an effort to enhance health and safety at the high school level. Guardian Caps will be provided in partnership with the NFL Foundation.
The Falcons have been at the forefront of growing girls flag football in Georgia over the past six years, beginning with a pilot program for 19 high schools in Gwinnett County in 2018. This fall, more than 7,000 girls participated in girls flag football at more than 270 high schools throughout Georgia.
Guardian Caps are the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. Created in 2010 by Erin and Lee Hanson, Guardian Caps bring a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of the helmet and reduce impact of hits. According to the Georgia High School Association, 13 percent of Georgia high school football teams currently utilize Guardian Caps in practice.
"We are honored to continue to play a role in fueling the growth of high school football throughout our state for young men and women," said Atlanta Falcons President Greg Beadles. "Arthur Blank, his family foundation and the Atlanta Falcons recognize the profound impact football has on all those involved. We hope this is a positive step in increasing participation of the game we are all so passionate about and ensuring a safer, strong football experience at the high school level."
"We are incredibly grateful for the partnership we have with the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation," said Tim Scott, Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association. "The success and growth of Flag Football in the Georgia High School Association would not be possible without the support we receive from these outstanding organizations. Thanks to their generosity, our teams now have the opportunity to be equipped with Guardian Caps, and our schools can both start and strengthen their Flag Football programs. This continued collaboration enables us to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes in Georgia."
The interest form to receive a grant application will be distributed to Georgia high schools on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1.3 billion to charitable causes. Our collective giving areas are Atlanta's Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together.
In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League (NFL) Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. The NFL Foundation has become one of the leading philanthropic entities in America, contributing to NFL team communities, national and international disaster relief efforts, and societal issues. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit NFLFoundation.org.
