The Extra Yard, June 2023

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION

NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2023

CELEBRATING TEACHERS

Six Ways the CFP Foundation went the Extra Yard for Teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week

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eacher Appreciation Week for THE AAC SURPRISES TEACHERS IN DALLAS 2023 was another opportunity The American Athletic Conference (AAC), based in North Texas, wanted to step up for teachers in its back for Americans coast-to-coast yard. The AAC staff surprised Marsh Middle School to say “thank you” to in Dallas, where 10 teachers were teachers who truly make each given $1,000 to fund various DonorsChoose projects. The funds the difference in our were a part of the conference’s We cannot do what children’s lives. grant through the CFP Foundation.

we do without the valuable contributions that come from our partners.

Many of the College Football The 10 teachers were surprised as Playoff’s valuable partners wanted part of a school assembly and were to stay involved, adding to the joined by students and colleagues overall effort and appreciated as part of the celebration. greatly by the organization.

“All of us at the American “We cannot do what we do Athletic Conference are grateful to without the valuable contributions be a part of [Teacher Appreciation that come from our partners,” Week] and align with the CFP BRITTON BANOWSKY said CFP Foundation Executive Foundation in supporting CFP FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director Britton Banowsky. “The teachers,” said Shane Elder, schools, conferences and bowl the AAC’s Director of Football games all do such a wonderful job to step up and Operations and Sport Administration who was on make a difference. We’re all pulling on the same rope hand for the presentation. “There’s no better feeling with the same message — ‘thank you, teachers.’ It than giving back to the teachers who work so hard in takes all of us.” molding our children’s future.”

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NOLA LOVE FROM THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL

FORMER COMMISSIONER STAYING INVOLVED

In New Orleans, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and New During his tenure at the Big 12, former Schools for New Orleans (NSNO) held a Teacher Fest commissioner Bob Bowlsby always enjoyed to celebrate educators. Over staying involved in community 1,750 teachers attended the event events, so much so that even with 100 percent of NOLA public in retirement, he participated schools represented. Together, in Teacher Appreciation Week the Allstate Sugar Bowl and CFP as an ambassador for the CFP Foundation gave away $70,000 in Foundation.

DonorsChoose grants to teachers.

Bowlsby served at two surprise Afterward, 95 percent of the presentations — one at Nathan teachers who attended said Adams Elementary in Dallas and the event made them feel “very the other at Marsh Middle School valued.” NSNO utilized the — where $1,000 in DonorsChoose Teacher Fest as an opportunity for funds was awarded to a teacher recruitment too, as the organization for classroom projects. The BOB BOWLSBY connected with 75 additional outprincipal at each school was also of-district teachers. The momentum given $1,000 to apply toward in the Crescent City is clear, and NSNO is confident that school resources. next year’s event will have more than 2,000 attendees.

“Teachers are so important, and to be part of these In addition, four school surprises were held for wonderful surprises never gets old,” said Bowlsby. teachers in New Orleans, all of which focused on “Our educators do such an incredible job. I enjoy supporting classroom resources with additional staying involved with the CFP Foundation and their DonorsChoose grants for teachers and principals. overall efforts to support teachers.”

Teachers are so important, and to be part of these wonderful surprises never gets old.

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THANK YOU TEACHERS! The 2023 edition of Teacher Appreciation Week was a success nationwide — from New York to Houston to L.A. — complete with teacher appreciation parties, Extra Yard Makeover reveals and a CFP Foundation favorite, classroom supply surprises!

THE MOUNTAIN WEST STEPS UP

The Mountain West Conference wanted to take its extra CFP Foundation grant money and support teachers in Hawai’i and Reno, Nevada, with $7,500 going toward classroom projects in each community.

Mrs. Marhulis, who teaches at King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina, Hawai’i, received resources to help her fund a STEAM learning project through LEGO education. Thanks to this program, Mrs. Marhulis’ students will experience standardsaligned learning units using everyday themes, relatable mini-figures with different personalities and familiar LEGO building elements to solve problems through storytelling.

Mrs. Konyshev at Desert Heights Elementary in Reno, Nevada, received funds for iPads that her students can use to collect data and observe changes in the local environment for science investigations.

Overall, 31 teachers across 25 Hawai’i schools were served, as 33 total projects were funded statewide. In Reno, 23 teachers from 13 different schools received support to fund 23 total projects.

ECKRICH MEATS’ CONTINUED GENEROSITY AND DEDICATION During Teacher Appreciation Week, longtime CFP Foundation partner Eckrich Meats ran its familiar “Tag a Te@cher” giveaway promotion on Instagram. Followers were encouraged to nominate great teachers to enter for a chance to win $1,000 in DonorsChoose funds thanks to Eckrich.

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SAVE THE DATES ALL ROSES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

More than 200 educators were recognized across the campaign, including five who were randomly selected to receive the funds in appreciation of their efforts.

Public school libraries in the Pasadena, California, area received makeovers for a more “modern and natural” feel. The renovated libraries at Octavia E. Butler Magnet School in Pasadena and Eliot Arts Magnet Academy in Altadena were revealed during Teacher Appreciation Week, and school officials and representatives from the community groups that made it happen attended the festivities.

The makeovers were made possible by the College Football Playoff Foundation with support from the Tournament of Roses and the Pasadena Educational Foundation. Across the two library makeovers, the three foundations combined to donate approximately $105,000.

“The updated media centers will elevate the learning experience for students for years to come,” said Brian McDonald, superintendent of Pasadena Unified School District.

Noemi Orduna, principal at Butler, said the space will be a hub of activities, including daily lunches and meetings.

“This makes a difference in our students’ and teachers’ experiences,” she said. “You don’t know what this means to us.”

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SEPTEMBER 15-23

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Join the CFP Foundation in celebrating teachers across the country! Your support allows us to bring the college sports community together in support of the PK-12 educators who help us get to where we are today!

We ask all of our partners to show support for teachers during this week, whether it be on social, at a home football game, or working with the CFP Foundation and your conference office to deliver resources to educators in your community.

CHOOSE KINDNESS PROMOTIONAL KITS

JUNE 2023 HONOREE

Kristy Pahvahtyah

Pueblo Gardens PK-8, Tucson AZ | Fourth Grade

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A KINDER WORLD STARTS HERE! Order a FREE Choose Kindness promotional box for your school to celebrate the launch of our digital toolkit for educators.

The promotional box includes posters, stickers, lanyards, and a $50 DonorsChoose gift card.

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t Pueblo Gardens PK-8 School in Tucson, Arizona, Kristy Pahvahtyah uses the values of her Hopi culture to help students celebrate their own unique identities.

Pahvahtyah, who grew up on tribal lands, bases her classroom culture on three core Hopi values: Kyapsi, which means respect for all things; nami’nangwa, which means helping others without being asked; and Sumi’nangwa, which means contributing to the community.

“I think about what I want for my students, not just for now but for life. I thought about what made me the person that I am today, and it’s those values,” Pahvahtyah said.

Pahvahtyah became a teacher through the University of Arizona’s Indigenous Teacher Project (ITEP), whose mission is to increase the number of Indigenous teachers serving Indigenous students, schools, and communities.

Dr. Michael Konrad, the principal at Pueblo Gardens, says, “Kristy helps students understand that our cultures and backgrounds will always be a part of us; it can be a strength to grow on that can shape who they are and how they see the world and how they can shape whatever community they are a part of.”

Amanda Borquez, whose two daughters Liliana and Gabby have both been in Kristy’s class, concurs: “The way that she was so proud of her culture translates to the kids as ‘Hey, I can be proud of my culture.’”

Read the full story at honored.org.

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CFP Foundation and Dr Pepper Support Student-Athletes Studying to Become Teachers

s part of the Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Dr Pepper united earlier this year to award nearly $500,000 in tuition grants to 150 college students, each receiving $2,500 in financial aid.

Eleven grand-prize winners, whose applications and reason for teaching stood out among all recipients, were each awarded $10,000 in additional tuition assistance.

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This is the third cohort of students who are part of the CFP Foundation and Dr Pepper’s collective effort over a six-year span to award over $1.5 million in tuition in support of student-athletes looking to become teachers. In the past academic year, the program expanded to include eligible student-athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) alongside the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences (FBS) and the University

of Notre Dame. In total, this year’s grants tripled the number of student-athletes who received tuition grants compared to the program’s inaugural year.

Several student-athletes graduated this semester with their teaching degrees and more are on the way. The CFP Foundation and Dr Pepper extend their congratulations and encourage students interested in pursuing teaching careers to follow their dreams.

YEAR IN REVIEW

It was an amazing year of growth for the CFP Foundation across all of its pillars, which would not have been possible without the support from so many wonderful partners.

The CFP Foundation is proud to be the largest sports organization in the country focused on supporting PK-12 educators and their students. As school districts across the country tried to restore normalcy to their campuses in the post-COVID era, teachers were once again called to “go the extra yard” for their students, providing them with not only critical academic support to minimize learning gaps, but also much needed social emotional support. The CFP Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to assist, as approximately 35,000 teachers across all 50 states were positively impacted in the 2022-23 academic year.

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