The New York Jets and New York City Department of Education announced details of a $100,000 donation to the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) to support high school football. This donation will help recondition helmets in the PSAL, launch a new football program at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School and provide USA Football Heads Up coaching certification. Jets president Neil Glat and wide receiver Brandon Marshall presented the check for $100,000 from the team to the PSAL and launched *PROJECT PREVENT™ *– Youth Mental Health Training for Athletes through his foundation, Project 375, and LUCID.
Beginning in 2005, the Jets have provided an annual matching grant with the NFL Foundation to support the PSAL's football programs by reconditioning helmets and creating 14 new and developmental football teams. A. Philip Randolph Campus High School will start as a developmental program in 2016, compete at a junior varsity level in 2017 and both a junior varsity and varsity schedule in 2018. In addition, the Jets provide funding for PSAL coaches to become USA Football Heads Up certified.
"We are proud to continue our commitment to youth football in New York City," said Jets president Neil Glat. "This grant will assist thousands of young athletes at all levels to participate in football and experience the benefits of athletics."
Jets, Brandon Marshall and NYC Department of Education Announce $100,000 Donation to PSAL
Marshall addressed the A. Philip Randolph High School football team and introduced Project 375's* Project Prevent™*, which responds to the needs of children and adolescents by introducing technology driven support through LUCID, a mental training app that lends advice and meditation exercises to athletes and by providing parents, teachers and staff members with Youth Mental Health First Aid training. Through *PROJECT PREVENT™, *Marshall and LUCID will gift season-long licenses for the app to all high school football teams in the PSAL. Marshall will visit additional schools throughout the season to promote Project 375's message.
"Football teams provide rewarding opportunities for students to be active, while helping to build strong school communities across the City," said Donald Douglas, Executive Director of the PSAL. "We are grateful to the Jets and the NFL for their generous donation providing equipment and training for teams, and we look forwarding to continuing our long-standing partnership."
"I'm overwhelmed with joy that PROJECT375 is now in a position to help our youth reach their full potential," said Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall. "We believe technology driven support through Lucid is an accessible, affordable and educational application that will be extremely beneficial to students. I'm so happy that I can share this platform with the world because I see the benefits every day. We must strengthen our mind the same way we do our body and help youth proactively take charge of their own mental fitness."
More than 30,000 student-athletes, both boys and girls, participate in the PSAL, with many playing multiple sports. In addition, more than 200 high schools participate, competing in 28 varsity sports and nine junior varsity sports represented by more than 2,400 teams.
