Article Contributed on: 2/20/2009 4:53:30 PM
The youth football stars of Highlands Ranch will be standing proud next fall in new jerseys purchased in part from the NRPA/USA Football Youth Football Grant awarded to the Highlands Ranch Metro District this February.
The Highlands Ranch Metro District competed against 450 other parks and recreation programs, schools and independent youth associations for the $2,000 grant that went to provide jerseys and equipment to the metro district's youth flag football program.
"The number of kids participating in the program keeps growing to where we had 11 more teams than the year before," said Amber Garrett, recreation coordinator for the Highlands Ranch Metro District. "In total, we had 80 teams participate."
Garrett said the grant will not only create a better environment for area kids to have fun and learn the game of football, but will spice the existing program up a bit.
"The grant will allow us to continue to provide the best programs for our kids and to hopefully expand to include a camp and scholarships down the road," Garrett said.
The Highlands Ranch program involves about 798 participants each fall, and although factors like the bear economy may affect participation numbers this coming season, Garrett said the Highlands Ranch Metro District remains one of the best recreation programs in the state.
"I received a call from a mother the other day and she was so excited we applied for the grant," Garrett said. "We now have cool jerseys for the kids to have pride in wearing while playing in the program and the new equipment is great for the kids as well. We hope the economy doesn't hurt participation numbers, but as an organization, we will continue to run a good program no matter what."
And in selecting the Highlands Ranch Metro District as a grant recipient, USA Football and the National Recreation and Park Association saw that the district is one of the best programs in Colorado because it strives to offer every kid the opportunity to do their best in an affordable program.
The Highlands Ranch Metro District was just one of 126 agencies and organizations that received funding totaling $300,000 from the National Recreation and Park Association and USA Football to enhance programs and create stability for the future of youth football at the grassroots level.
"Millions of American youngsters, like those in Highlands Ranch, weave youth football into the fabric of our cities and towns," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said in a press release regarding the grant. "The game brings us together and instills team-first values for the kids who love to play it."
Aside from new jerseys and equipment, the grant will be used for advertising, facility and field fees, as well as other field items.
For more information about the Metro District's youth football program, call 303-791-2710 or visit www.highlandsranch.org.