Updates

Through the Super Bowl Legacy Grant Program, the NFL seeks to improve the surrounding community of the host city by giving an annual $1 million contribution from the NFL Foundation. This year, a $2.4 million grant — supported by funding from the NFL Foundation, the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee and the Miami Dolphins — has gone to five different capital improvement projects in South Florida, including downtown Miami, Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach and Broward County. Additional support for the projects was provided by South Florida-based partners — the Downtown Development Authority, City of Miami, Miami Foundation, City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade Public Schools, Miami-Dade County, the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, the Memorial Foundation and Broward County Parks and Recreation.

The grant projects will refurbish three youth fields — converting fields from grass to synthetic — at Gwen Cherry Park, Goulds Park and Miami Beach Senior High School. New lighting will be installed in Bayfront Park as part of downtown Miami's Baywalk, and an Outdoor Fitness Zone will be built at Plantation Heritage Regional Park in Broward County.

This year, the NFL and Miami Super Bowl Host Committee's grants are focused on creating opportunities for youth to play football and compete on improved fields, and for upgrading walking paths and park facilities on which residents and visitors may participate in exercise and outdoor activities.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a Huddle for 100 volunteer event at the NFL Youth Education Town (YET) at Gwen Cherry Park. Huddle for 100 is the NFL's season-long initiative to inspire people to donate 100 minutes of their time in honor of the league's 100th season, with a goal of reaching 100 million minutes of service.

The NFL family has surpassed 300 million minutes volunteered, having exceeded the original goal on Thanksgiving Day. The NFL partnered with Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces and the Mission Continues to beautify and revitalize areas surrounding the park and community center. NFL Legends and players participated alongside 150 volunteers in mulching, gardening, bench building, painting and more. Students took part in an NFL PLAY 60 clinic on the refurbished field and also gave back through their community activities.

Commissioner Goodell presented Super Bowl tickets to two very deserving brothers — Wallace Aristides, principal of Miami Northwestern Senior High and William Aristide, principal of Booker T. Washington Senior High. The Aristide's are well-known and beloved leaders in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and are the first brothers to oversee schools that each took home football state championship titles in different classes at the same time.