Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Texas receives $37,500 grant

Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas Awards $37,500 grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas

Oct. 14, 2022 – The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas has awarded a $37,500 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas to invest in the Commerce Sports league in Commerce, Texas.

This funding was approved by the Heisman Trophy Trust which partners with CFT on their North Texas grantmaking efforts. They are thrilled to be supporting this sports-based youth development programming.

Youth today face more challenges than ever before seen in our nation’s history. From childhood obesity to academic learning inequities, to the ongoing mental health crisis- youth need opportunities and guidance to prepare themselves to be successful global citizens.The most valuable time to effect change in youth’s lives are the hours between school and home, and research proves that high quality sports programs can have a tremendous impact on youth.

Boys & Girls Clubs are uniquely positioned to fill this gap, ensuring that all youth, especially those who
need us the most, are being reached.

Across the country, Boys & Girls Clubs have partnered with local municipal parks and recreation
departments to successfully optimize resources, meet the needs of local communities, and provide quality sport and recreation programs infused with academic enrichment and character-building skills.

Following this model, in 2021, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas partnered with the City of
Commerce Parks & Recreation Department to launch a newly improved Commerce Sports League that
employs a wrap-around approach to youth sports and youth development.

The Commerce Sports League (implemented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas):

1. Provides high-quality, outcome-driven sports programming where youth will learn sports skills
while building confidence.
2. Promotes healthy lifestyles to the youth of Commerce through our 3-pronged approach: Physical
Activity, Healthy Eating Habits, and Social-Emotional Health.
3. Infuses sports leagues with targeted and evidence-based youth development practices.
4. Provides an academic learning component that reinforces the importance of school and promotes
reading skills.
5. Creates mentorship opportunities between Commerce residents & Commerce youth to build
bridges and further impact.

Funding from this grant will allow the Club to scale the program by investing in equipment, staffing,
marketing, uniforms, and support. This program is expected to reach approximately 25% of the youth in
Commerce, Texas- 350 youth.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas is a nonprofit organization operating in Hunt & Rockwall Counties. The mission of the Club is to ensure all youth, especially those who need us most, reach their full potential as productive, caring, & responsible citizens. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Texas, visit www.begreatnext.org.

Submitted press release