Big Ten Conference and College Football Playoff Foundation Continue Educational Initiatives in Chicago

June 30, 2021

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation continued their educational initiatives in Chicago during the 2020-21 academic year, contributing $30,000 to the Children First Fund, the Chicago Public Schools Foundation.

Through assistance from the CFP Foundation, the Big Ten continues to support the Children First Fund (CFF), which has a mission to promote the growth and success of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) through philanthropy and partnerships. The Big Ten has allotted $20,000 to the Compassion Fund’s Summer Reading Initiative, which will provide contemporary, culturally relevant books to Chicago Public Schools students in grades 3-5. The funding donated should provide nearly 600 multicultural book packs for students to see reflections of both their own and other cultures.

As part of the 2020-21 efforts, the Big Ten previously allotted $10,000 towards the CFF Compassion Fund, which provided schools and students with essential items to equip students to learn in school and remotely. The $10,000 included $5,000 towards learning technology for remote learning and emergency relief for families and $5,000 towards school supplies.

About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers  

The CFP Foundation is the community engagement arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.

About Children First Fund: The Chicago Public Schools Foundation

The Children First Fund is the philanthropic and partnership arm of Chicago Public School (CPS). It serves as a knowledge hub and liaison between CPS and its community of partners, securing and organizing resources that advance CPS’ mission to provide a high-quality public education that prepares every child in every neighborhood for success in college, career, and civic life. For more information, please visit https://www.childrenfirstfund.org or find us on social @ChiFirstFund.

About the Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.

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