Community Relations
As the Falcons address overall physical fitness among Georgia's young people, the mission of our community outreach is to increase sports and recreation opportunities for boys and girls through the "Falcons Focus on Fitness" program. "Falcons' Focus on Fitness" is a call to action to encourage physical activity through a series of fitness-based programs that include: the Falcons Fitness Challenge, youth football clinics, Hispanic football initiatives, Falcons Fitness Flag Crew and an in-school fitness program. For more information on any of these programs call 770.965.3115.

FITNESS OUTREACH

Fútbol Americano presented by Ford
The Falcons and Ford Motor Company have designed this program to teach the fundamentals of the game to Hispanic children (Georgia's fastest growing community) through a workshop teaching the basics of the game and a hands-on instructional clinic by Falcons staff. Several Falcons players will lead sessions that will include a question-and-answer period and football-related drills and activities.

Falcons Flag Fitness Crew
During each home game, the Falcons invite children from local youth football leagues or children's organizations to spend the day with members of the field crew beginning with morning on-field rehearsal, aerobic warm up, lunch with the group, the opportunity to visit and play on Falcons Landing, and culminating with unfurling the giant Falcons flag on the field before the game. Each participant receives a t-shirt and tickets to the game.

Falcons Fitness Challenge presented by Piedmont Hospital
The Falcons Fitness Challenge is designed to challenge metro Atlanta students, in grades three through seven, to participate in physical activities, make good food choices and lead healthy lifestyles. This incentive program, presented by Piedmont Hospital, rewards both individual students and schools for their participation and progress throughout the program.

Staples Teacher of the Week Program
The Staples Teacher of the Week program was designed to honor teachers in the community for their efforts to help today's children stay active and in shape. Nominators submit an essay of 150 words or less about the teacher and how they incorporate fitness into their curriculum. Essays are submitted on www.atlantafalcons.com or by mail and are reviewed by a special panel that selects one winner for each home game. Each recipient receives tickets to a Falcons home game, an acknowledgement during halftime as the Staples Teacher of the Week, a $1,000 Staples spending account for their school and a special personalized jersey, as well as recognition on the team's website.

Ball Boy Mentoring Program
Falcons players serve as mentors to boys from the Boys and Girls Club of Hall County through monthly meetings that provide the boys the opportunity to talk to the players about school work, home life and other things that may be affecting their lives.
The ball boys also assist the Falcons equipment staff during training camp and at select home games to allow them to experience the professional football work environment. The program culminates in December with a "Shop with a Jock" event where the boys purchase holiday gifts for their families, compliments of monetary donations made by the Falcons players.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Junior Community Quarterback Award
Funded by NFL Charities, the Falcons Junior Community Quarterback Award honors community volunteers in Georgia who have demonstrated leadership, dedication, and commitment to bettering the communities in which they live.

The Atlanta Falcons are accepting nominations for the 2005 Falcons Junior Community Quarterback Award. Four local winners will be selected through an application process, which rewards money to the winning volunteers' chosen charities. Individuals can nominate themselves or others for the award by clicking here.

Memorabilia Donation Program
The Falcons support hundreds of charitable groups, schools, and civic organizations across the state each year through memorabilia donation. More than $30,000 is raised annually for the items these groups use for fundraisers through the program.

Coming: Donation Criteria

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Atlanta Falcons Golf Classic
Every year the Falcons host a celebrity golf tournament to benefit The Whitey Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship Fund. More than $70,000 was raised at the tournament held in May of this year at the St. Ives Country Club.

Falcons Football Academy for Women
This yearly interactive educational program designed exclusively for women was held in October at the Falcons practice facility in Flowery Branch. The day included a question and answer session with current Falcons players who discuss topics ranging from the plays on the field, to their life in the NFL. Attendees learned the Xs and Os of the game, official signals, penalties and sports nutrition from Falcons coaches, an NFL official and sports nutritionist. Participants participated in drills and plays on the field where the Falcons practice and are treated to a tour of the facility and a tailgate party with food and beverages. Proceeds from the event benefit Bosom Buddies, a breast cancer awareness group.

PLAYER OUTREACH

NFL Teacher of the Year
The Falcons participate in the NFL Teacher of the Year program, honoring teachers who have had a positive influence on NFL players. Teachers are nominated by players during the NFL regular season. Finalists are selected from a pool of applicants from across the nation by a panel of educators and civic leaders. The NFL Teacher of the Year receives a $5,000 grant and a $10,000 grant is presented to the teacher's school.

Extra Yard Partnership Program
The Extra Yard Partnership Program connects players with local children's organizations to create awareness for these charities. Players give back in a variety of ways including: visiting with the children, purchasing tickets for them to attend games, participating in public service announcements to heighten awareness of the charity, donating items to the organization, and other forms of outreach. This season, the following players are participating in the program: Keith Brooking (The Keith Brooking Children's Foundation); Todd McClure (Gwinnett Children's Shelter) and Derek Rackley (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and National Kidney Foundation of Georgia).

NFL Tuesdays/Hometown Huddle
Tuesday is the traditional day off for players during the season. However, many players use this day to work in their communities. The NFL Tuesdays program is designed to raise awareness of the day off charitable activities of players and the importance of volunteerism. Begun in 1999, Hometown Huddle is a national NFL Super Tuesday, a day on which NFL players and coaches from each of the 32 teams participate in various community-service activities. This year's Hometown Huddle will take place in November.

Player Performance Pledges
Another way the Falcons players give back to the community is through Player Performance Pledges. Players make pledges to a charitable organization based on individual or team accomplishments on the field (yardage, touchdowns, receptions, field goals, tackles, wins, etc.) throughout the season. Over $102,249 was raised in 2003 through performance pledges for charity.

Coming: A detailed player performance pledge listing.

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Atlanta Falcons Women's Association
The Atlanta Falcons Women's Association (Women's Association) has become another arm of the team's community-building efforts. Established to create camaraderie among the wives, fiancées and girlfriends of Falcons players, coaches and staff, the Women's Association is also making an impact in the metro-Atlanta community.

The Women's Association's platform is to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research, as well as to support Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a network of Atlanta-area hospitals serving the health care needs of children. Through a series of events and programs, including the Falcons Football Academy for Women, the women raise funds for these beneficiaries. They also participate in the annual FalCan Food Drive and Toys for Tots drives at the Georgia Dome during the holidays.