HOUSTON – The Houston Texans, the NFL Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will be awarding $450,000 to renovate and resurface the athletic field located at Jack Yates High School. The project seeks to address the shortage of clean, safe and accessible athletic fields in Third Ward Houston. The check for the donation will be presented in a program to Jack Yates High School with remarks from public officials and supporters on Friday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m.

The check will be presented to representatives of the project planning consortium that includes Change Happens, Houston Society for Change, 88 C.H.U.M.P., Jack Yates High School National Alumni Association and Harris County Commissioner Precinct One, Rodney Ellis. The consortium represents community development, education, community engagement, public service and social service organizations anchored in the neighborhood.

Additionally, the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation-NRG Park, Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Hellas Construction, Inc. and the Houston Texans also announced that they will be donating the Texans’ artificial playing surface from NRG Stadium to be installed at Yates for this project, providing an extra in-kind donation valued at $1,250,000, and continuing the tradition of donating the Texans former playing surface to a community cause.

“The Houston Texans are proud to work with our partners to support the renovation of the Jack Yates High School Athletic Field,” said Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair. “Our hope is that this field enriches a love of sports across the youth in the historic Third Ward, prompting the next generation of student athletes and leaders. We are grateful to be a part of this project and believe it will become an integral pillar of the community for decades to come.”

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Grant Program is a partnership of the NFL Foundation and LISC to provide non-profit organizations and schools with financial assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields. The program also aims to build an infrastructure through partnerships and resident involvement that will sustain these open spaces for community use. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program provides grants of up to $250,000 for capital improvement projects.

This year, Jack Yates High School is the recipient of the $250,000 grant from the NFL, the Texans and LISC to support the installation of the turf field at Yates High School. This NFL Grassroots Program Grant is the 12th awarded in Houston, bringing the total to more than $1.25 million that has been awarded for field improvement projects in communities across the city. The Texans, through the NFL Foundation, will also be providing an additional $200,000 field grant to support the project, bringing the total amount of the donation to $450,000.

The donation will be announced during a program that will be open to Yates High School students, staff, alumni, community supporters, residents and public officials on Friday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m. To donate to this project through Change Happens, visit https://www.changehappenstx.org/jack-yates-athletic.