A Football Field (and Thereby, Hope) for New Orleans’ Carver High
- Posted by: Andrew Price
- on February 20, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hurricane Katrina was disastrous for New Orleans schools. And while temporary trailers have provided devastated schools with functioning classrooms, sports facilities were hit hard too. Before Katrina, 70 New Orleans schools fielded football teams. Now that number is down to 56. Students need desks and chalkboards but they also need quality space to get some exercise and rebuild damaged school spirit.
From GOOD’s own Beth Stone:
“George Washington Carver High School’s resurrection occurred in the wake of Katrina and in the heart of the 9th ward. Three and a half years later, the Mighty Rams find their football team practicing on an abandoned lot and busting their humps to raise dollars for a new community sports space providing an unprecedented resource to the city and everyone in it.”
Carver High’s ambitious 23-year old athletic director Brian Bordainick is leading this fundraising effort. Through his initiative, the 9th Ward Field of Dreams, Brian is trying to raise $1.85 million in the next 144 days to build a new multipurpose stadium for the school—and for the broader 9th ward community. It would be powerful symbol of hope (as well as a great place for football games). Nike recently kicked in $100,000 and his efforts are gaining steam.
Check them out at 9th Ward Field of Dreams and (we know you’re pinched) chip in if you can.
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As an update, the NFL’s Grassroots Program has donated an additional $200K to the project! The Times-Picayune covers it here. Another brand funding money toward field restoration is Kelloggs. Their site is a bit cumbersome and the fields are a little hard to find, but you can support George W. Carver – and get a coupon for Frosted Flakes.