AFYF awards more than $700,000 to non-profit organizations
December 15, 2006

Grants expand the Falcons Fitness Zones

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) announced it is awarding $717,241 in grants to non-profit organizations in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia to support youth fitness and healthy eating initiatives. Among the approved grants, AFYF will expand its Falcons Fitness Zones program into Hall County, Georgia, and will add a Falcons Fitness Zone site at the East Lake YMCA to serve students at Drew Charter Elementary in the Kirkwood-East Lake Fitness Zone.

To help address the growing problem of youth obesity in Georgia, the Falcons Fitness Zones program was created in 2005 to enhance physical fitness activities and support healthy eating. The program is currently funded by a three-year, $3.6 million commitment and operates in four designated zones serving youth in and around downtown Atlanta communities through a collaboration of community partners (Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, YMCA of Metro Atlanta and YWCA of Greater Atlanta). Through this grant cycle, AFYF has expanded its community partner relationship to include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County, and established a fifth Falcons Fitness Zone in Gainesville, Georgia near the Atlanta Falcons training facility.

As a part of its Traditional Grants and Athletic Field Development programs, the foundation is also awarding grants to non-profit organizations in Georgia that encourage intentional programs and strategies to support the healthy development of youth.

"Without question Georgia's kids need more physical activity and healthier nutrition in their daily lives," said Scott Doll, executive director of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation. "Through the partnerships we're forming with several non-profit organizations, and the work that's being done in the Fitness Zones, we're committed to that goal."

Organizations receiving grants from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation are:

Traditional Grants Program
The following support Youth Fitness and/or Sports Programming:
America Atlanta SCORES
Atlanta Youth Tennis Foundation
B.O.S. Fitness, Inc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens
Boys & Girls Clubs of Augusta
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia
Camp Summer Spree
Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc. (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.)
Chance for a Higher Level
Cool Girls, Inc.
DC Blazers
Devereux Foundation / Devereux Georgia Treatment Network
Diabetes Association of Atlanta, Inc.
Friends of John A. White Park (First Tee of Atlanta)
The First Tee of Columbus, Georgia
Fit For Kids Foundation, Inc.
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation
Georgia Titans Basketball Club
Georgia Youth Sports Association
Hart Partners, Inc.
HomeStretch (Housing Initiative of North Fulton)
Lowndes County Partnership for Health
Reach Them 2 Teach Them Foundation
Special Olympics Georgia
St. Jude's Recovery Center, Inc.
The University of Georgia Foundation to benefit the Department of Foods and Nutrition
WestCare Georgia, Inc.

Athletic Field Development Program
The following support and provide additional physical fitness opportunities:
County Line Ruritan Club, Inc. / Hiram Hornets Youth Association
The Meriwether County Interagency / Family Connection, Inc.

Signature Program
The following support and enhance the existing Falcons Fitness Zone programming:
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Creating Pride, Inc.
Social Solutions, Inc.
Women's Sports Foundation

About Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation
The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) was established in 1985 to serve as the philanthropic arm of the Atlanta Falcons. Since Arthur Blank acquired the club in 2002, the AFYF has grown to be the largest team-funded foundation in the National Football League, providing more than $7.1 million in grants to non-profit organizations across the state of Georgia. The AFYF is committed to working with non-profit organizations throughout Georgia to reduce childhood obesity through youth fitness, sports programs, athletic field development and the Falcons Fitness Zones.