Successful partnership has invested $7.5 million in youth sports programs in the New York City region — and is expanding to other cities.
NEW YORK (March 7, 2023) — To sports fans across the United States, the Heisman Trophy is an iconic award presented each December to the nation’s best college football player.
But few people know about the organization behind the trophy — The Heisman Trophy Trust — or its impressive charitable work, which extends well beyond its signature trophy.
Through its partnership with The New York Community Trust, The Heisman Trust created the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund in 2017 to help nonprofits operating sports-based youth development programs in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey engage young people in educational activities.
The Fund recently expanded its grantmaking to include the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Communities Foundation of Texas, which are supporting youth sports and education programs in Atlanta and Dallas.
“The Heisman Trophy Trust’s goal is to harness the power of the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence to positively impact our nation’s youth and provide more equitable opportunities for underserved communities,” said Michael Comerford, president of the Heisman Trophy Trust. “The New York Community Trust team have been instrumental partners, helping us professionalize, streamline, and expand our charitable giving program — allowing us to have a greater impact in underserved communities in need.”
The New York Community Trust manages the fund and its grantmaking in New York, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey. This includes issuing requests for grant proposals from nonprofits and vetting and selecting the nonprofits that will receive Heisman funding. It also evaluates the program’s success.
Through its latest round of grants announced today, the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund in The Trust will grant nearly $1.5 million to 24 nonprofits — bringing the total awarded in the New York City area to more than $7.5 million. The grants will help deliver valuable programs to nearly 10,000 young people in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and Newark, New Jersey. Program participants will have the opportunity to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence with integrity.
Grantees include a diverse array of programs across the region, including Figure Skating in Harlem, Brooklyn’s Kings County Tennis League, the Peter Westbrook Foundation’s fencing and academic program in Midtown Manhattan, and an afterschool journalism program in Newark called Write on Sports.
“Sports are powerful,” said Roderick Jenkins, who directs The New York Community Trust’s youth development grantmaking. “They teach kids skills that are essential on and off the field: discipline, focus, teamwork, and leadership. They provide mentors, friendship, and a sense of purpose.”
About The New York Community Trust
The New York Community Trust is a public charity and New York City’s largest community foundation. It connects generous people and institutions with high-impact nonprofits making the city and its suburbs a better place for all. It builds stronger communities, influences public policy, fosters innovation, improves lives, and protects our environment.
About The Heisman Trophy Trust
The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission is to grow the legacy and preserve the integrity of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is annually awarded to an outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. Beyond awarding the trophy, the Trust has a charitable mission to support and fund both youth development programs in underserved communities and the Heisman high school scholarship program, which recognizes community-minded scholar-athletes. Additionally, the Trust annually presents the Heisman Humanitarian Award to outstanding individuals in the sports world who further the Heisman vision. Our goal is to harness the power of the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence to positively impact our nation’s youth and provide more equitable opportunities for underserved communities.
2023 HEISMAN TROPHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND GRANTS
The nonprofits receiving 2023 grants from the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund in The New York Community Trust are:
America Scores New York: $80,000 for soccer and academic programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx public elementary and middle schools.
Beat the Streets Wrestling: $40,000 to expand its program for middle and high school wrestlers.
Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon: $20,000 to link Project Learn academic support programs to two after-school sports programs in Westchester County.
Brooklyn Boatworks: $80,000 for an academic and boatbuilding program at 12 schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
Brooklyn Youth Sports Club Inc: $80,000 for a basketball and academic program in Brooklyn.
Challenge Myself: $80,000 for an academic and cycling program for high school students.
CityLax: $40,000 to start lacrosse and academic programs in public middle schools in Queens.
City of White Plains: $20,000 to integrate an academic support program to after-school sports programs in Westchester County.
DREAM: $80,000 to expand a sports and academic program for elementary school students in the South Bronx.
EOC of Suffolk: $20,000 to expand an academic and soccer program for students at Suffolk County’s Bellport Middle School.
Figure Skating in Harlem: $80,000 to improve a figure skating program for girls.
Girls on the Run Long Island: $20,000 for an afterschool running and leadership development program for girls at six Hempstead, Roosevelt, and Elmont Long Island elementary and middle schools.
Girls on the Run NYC: $60,000 to operate 12 running and academic programs for girls in Brooklyn and the South Bronx.
Hudson River Community Sailing: $80,000 to expand a sailing program for New York City public high school students.
Kings County Tennis League: $80,000 to expand a tennis and academic program working in six public housing developments in Brooklyn.
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club: $80,000 for a sports and academic program for young people in the central Bronx.
New Heights Youth: $80,000 for a co-ed basketball and academic program.
Riverside Hawks Hope Health and Hoops Corporation: $40,000 for a year-round basketball and academic program in Manhattan.
Row New York: $80,000 for a rowing program for middle school and high school boys and girls.
South Bronx United: $80,000 for a year-round soccer and academic program in the South Bronx.
The Peter Westbrook Foundation: $20,000 for a fencing and academic program.
The Urban Dove: $80,000 to hire trained high school students to lead sports and academic after-school programs for students in New York City elementary schools.
Trident Swim Foundation: $80,000 for a swimming and educational program.
Write on Sports: $80,000 to operate a sports-based youth journalism program in Newark, N.J., public schools.