During this time, college football programs around the country will show their support for Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) through student-athletes wearing the EYFT apple logo helmet decal while coaches sport the apple patch on the sidelines. The goal is to help bring awareness and support to the local community by way of helping recognize grade school teachers from that community.
Since the EYFT program was launched, over $2.25 million dollars have been given to help fund teachers’ classroom needs. In all, over 1,500 teachers have been recognized, and impact has been felt in all 50 states.
A key component to the Extra Yard for Teachers Program is the College Banner Program. This program looks to “inspire a college going culture” by providing collegiate banners to schools in the host communities of the College Football Playoff National Championship. During the first year in 2014-15, the program provided over 22,000 banners that impacted over 300,000 students in over 20,000 classrooms.
The implementation of the Banner Program is so crucial to helping young minds see what else is out there for them in this world as explained by Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, Bill Hancock, “For many of these students, its the first time that they have ever had a chance to dream about college.”
In addition to the College Banner Program, there will be two events during championship week that help provide a direct impact on funding to the program, the Extra Yard 5K and the Taste of the Championship.
The Extra Yard 5K is the official race of the College Football Playoff National Championship taking place the morning before the title game. The race will take place on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida at 8 am. Registration for the event has already started and currently costs $25 with registration cost set to increase after November 2. Registration includes entry into a drawing for two tickets to the national championship game. All proceeds raised will go directly to the Extra Yard for Teachers program.
The Taste of the Championship is a premium event that will be held at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa the evening before the title game. The event gives attendees the chance to taste food from chefs in the Tampa area as well as chefs from the two team participants and the areas of the New Year’s Six bowls. During the event, teachers will be recognized as honored guests of the CFP Foundation and all proceeds raised go towards benefiting the Extra Yard for Teachers program.
With the college football season in full swing, it’s nice to see the impact that the game is trickling down into the teachers and schools that helped produce the athletes and coaches that we cheer for each weekend during the fall. You can take part in the Extra Yard for Teachers program in many ways. Click here to find out more information and see other ways that you can help make an impact today!
