Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints Team Up in the Community
September 19, 2006

In recognition of the New Orleans Saints' return to the Louisiana Superdome, the Atlanta Falcons will join with their NFC South opponent for a weekend of community renewal projects leading up to the Saints' first game back on their home turf. Both teams will bring together youth from their respective Junior Player Development (JPD) programs for a playground clean out project in New Orleans' Gentilly neighborhood in the 7th Ward, and to participate in JPD scrimmage games at the Saints' training facility. Some of the Atlanta Falcons JPD players are Hurricane Katrina evacuees currently living in the Atlanta area, and will be returning to New Orleans for the first time since the storm.

To kick off the weekend, Falcons and Saints JPD players will clean out the recreational facilities at Willie Hall Park with equipment and supplies provided by The Home Depot. Before the hurricane, Willie Hall Park was home to first-class youth football and recreation programs, but sustained significant flood damage. The youth from both teams will join together to remove ruined sports equipment from the facility and help beautify the park.

The Atlanta Falcons are also donating sports equipment to New Orleans high school football programs that sustained significant damages from Hurricane Katrina, including the loss of much needed football equipment. This donation will include 4,000 pairs of cleats contributed by Nike on behalf of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

"Our community partnership with the New Orleans Saints for their homecoming celebration means a great deal to our organization," said Scott Doll, Executive Director of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation. "This weekend of events creates opportunities for our club to continue to support the New Orleans community, while joining with the Saints to mark a significant milestone for their team and this great city."

To cap off the weekend of community events, the New Orleans Saints will host all youth participants at the Monday Night Football game as Falcons take on the Saints during their return to the Superdome.

In 2005, the Atlanta Falcons contributed nearly $1.1 million to Hurricane Katrina relief, more than any other team in the National Football League. Included in these relief efforts, $381,000 was donated to Habitat for Humanity in Baton Rouge from funds generated through Warrick Dunn's challenge to fellow NFL players. The Falcons contributed to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Desire Street Academy in New Orleans, Feed the Children, and the New Orleans Saints Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, among other relief organizations.