Key Takeaways
- The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is distributing $6.3 million over three years to six metro Atlanta school districts to eliminate cost barriers in youth sports
- The grant will impact more than 7,500 young athletes across Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Griffin-Spalding, Gwinnett, and Rockdale County school districts
- Girls flag football expansion is a primary focus, with multiple districts launching middle school programs ahead of the sport’s 2028 Olympic debut
- Funding covers program creation, coaching development, transportation costs, field improvements, and equipment across soccer, flag football, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and volleyball
Targeting Middle School Access and Retention
The Blank Foundation partnership with Atlanta United, Atlanta Falcons, and PGA TOUR Superstore addresses a critical gap in youth sports participation. Chris Millman, senior vice president of community engagement and sports philanthropy with AMB Sports and Entertainment, described the investment as a direct response to cost barriers preventing access.
The funding emphasizes middle school programming as a retention strategy. Gwinnett County Public Schools athletics director Jason Holcombe explained the approach centers on building earlier pipelines to high school sports. “The more they’re involved, the more they sustain, the more they attend school at a high rate,” Holcombe said. Gwinnett piloted Georgia’s first girls flag football program in 2018 and now operates programs at more than 300 high schools statewide.
District-by-District Investment Breakdown
Each of the six districts receives targeted funding based on specific infrastructure and access needs:
Gwinnett County will establish girls flag football at 14 middle schools starting in 2026, eliminate participation costs for middle school soccer, and install lighting at six athletic fields to improve safety and scheduling.
DeKalb County focuses exclusively on girls flag football, creating programs at 18 middle schools while removing all participation costs.
Griffin-Spalding launches boys and girls soccer and girls flag football at all four middle schools, eliminates participation fees, and upgrades athletic field quality.
Fulton County removes participation and transportation costs for high school soccer, golf, tennis, and wrestling while providing performance equipment.
Rockdale County addresses the broadest range of sports, eliminating costs for middle school soccer, flag football, tackle football, and volleyball, plus high school golf, swimming, tennis, and wrestling. The district also receives funding for field improvements at four middle schools.
Clayton County creates the district’s first coaching development program through a partnership with A Better Way Athletics, serving 27 middle and high schools.
Girls Flag Football Growth Trajectory
Girls flag football represents the fastest-growing component of the investment. Millman noted the sport’s trajectory includes Super Bowl commercials and inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “You’ve got a lot of young ladies now that are taking an interest in our game that may not have before,” Millman said.
Gwinnett County plans to expand flag football to all 30 middle schools by fall 2026. The sport provides a new access point for female athletes who previously lacked connection to football. Bay Creek Middle School wide receiver Kayci McClam described the impact: “I like the confidence that people get after playing. I like how brave I feel after scoring a touchdown or pulling a flag.”
How Funding Removes Participation Barriers
The grant addresses multiple cost layers that prevent youth sports access. Transportation expenses, participation fees, and equipment costs create cumulative barriers for families. Stephen Estrella, a goalkeeper benefiting from the soccer funding, described the impact as “more practice and experience” while pursuing professional goals.
Infrastructure improvements include field lighting installations that expand practice and game scheduling options, addressing facility constraints that limit team formation. Equipment upgrades ensure athletes have access to quality gear regardless of family income levels.
via: 11ALive
photo: Blank Family Foundation
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