NORTHEAST WIS. – The Green Bay Packers Foundation announced that it has distributed $1.6 million in annual grants to 402 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin in its annual distribution of grants.
Of the foundation’s contributions, 42 grants — aggregating $170,000 — were awarded to Brown County organizations. Additional grants, totaling $1,430,000, were made to 360 other organizations around the state.
“We’re pleased to award $1.6 million through our annual Packers Foundation grants,” said Packers President and CEO Ed Policy.
“It is a privilege for the Packers to be in a position to support the critical work these organizations do in our communities and throughout the state. We are proud to support their causes and shine a light on them.”
This year’s grant cycle focused on organizations that will direct the funds toward the need areas of animal welfare, homelessness and human services, with 58 grants going to animal welfare, 101 going to homelessness and 243 going to human services.
Locally, First Reach Foundation and Suring Lions Foundation, Inc. in Oconto County received funding as well as CASA of Menominee/Marinette and St. Joseph SSVDP Conference in Marinette County.
While 53 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties serve as the physical base for grant recipients, this year’s funding will provide impacts to each county in the state through the multi-county support many recipient organizations provide.
The grants awarded by the foundation are not recurring and must be used for the specific program or initiative for which the organizations applied.
The foundation has distributed more than $33 million for charitable purposes since it was established in 1986 by Judge Robert J. Parins, then president of the Packers Corporation, “as a vehicle to assure continued contributions to charity.”
Additionally, under the Packers Scholarship Program established in 2002, $53,000 was awarded — $26,500 to Scholarships Inc., for distribution to students in four-year colleges and $26,500 to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) for distribution to students in two-year associate degree or apprenticeship trades programs.
A portion of the scholarship funds come from National Football League (NFL) Properties which, at the Packers’ request, returns to the foundation royalty fees paid for using the Packers logo on Wisconsin automobile license plates. Because the royalties do not fully cover the scholarships, the Green Bay Packers fund the remainder of the amount, a figure which totals $716,000 since 2006. As in recent years, the Packers Foundation will also distribute additional dollars to various NFL Foundation programs in the coming months.
The Green Bay Packers Foundation Trustees, in addition to Jones, include Jan Allman, Michael Barber, LeRoy Butler, Mike Haddad, Bill Jartz, Mark Kasper, Laurie Radke, Mike Simmer and Chris Woleske. The Packers Foundation and its annual grants are part of Green Bay Packers Give Back, the Packers’ all-encompassing community outreach initiative that comprises appearances made by players, alumni, coaches and staff, football outreach, cash and in-kind donations, Make-A-Wish visits and community events.
To learn about where each organization will be focusing the grant dollars and for more information on the grant cycles, please visit www.packers.com/foundation.
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