Before crowning the College Football Playoff National Champions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation spent the week leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day supporting Atlanta Public Schools (APS).
The CFP Foundation provided breakfast for teachers and administrators at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) and later dropped in on Ms. Potter’s dance class to surprise her with a $1,000 Donors Choose gift card to support her class. The CFP Foundation also donated books authored by Dr. King and his daughter, Dr. Bernice King, to the school.
“We wanted to make sure that when we came to Atlanta, we did something in the community to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Byron Hatch, Chief Operating Officer of the College Football Playoff. “One of the things that we focus on through our College Football Playoff Foundation is pre-K through 12th-grade education, and what better way than to focus on schools that are tied directly to Dr. King.”
The CFP Foundation has spent the last year executing its mission throughout Georgia and has supported educators in all 159 counties in the state.
“The real winners are going to be teachers this weekend,” said Britton Banowsky, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Foundation. “One of the greatest gifts is showing up and caring about the kids and shining a spotlight on them and giving them an opportunity to share their talents with us.”
In addition to their donation to CSKYWLA, the CFP Foundation had another surprise for APS educators. At the unveiling of the new flag football/ soccer field at the John Hope Community Center, the Booker T. Washington High School football team and flag football team were each presented with a $1,000 Donors Choose gift card on behalf of the CFP Foundation and ESPN.
The coaches were also invited to the National Championship game and recognized on the field during the game.
“We just thought we were coming out here to support the community, and they surprised us with $1,000 that we can spend in the classroom,” Washington High School special education teacher and football coach Chauncey Prather said. “This $1,000 is going toward books, pens, notebooks, paper, anything to help our student-athletes be successful.”