Super Bowl LIX Host Committee announces $3 million in grants for nonprofits

Impact 59 Powered by Entergy will award grants of $25,000 to $250,000 to nonprofits in Greater New Orleans

Jul 23, 2024 at 05:05 PM

Andrew Lang

The New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, led by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the New Orleans Saints in partnership with Entergy, announced the Super Bowl LIX Legacy Program, “Impact 59 Powered by Entergy”, to leave a legacy of philanthropy and economic benefit in conjunction with the Super Bowl LIX taking place on February 9, 2025. The program and its partners will award impactful grants to local nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Orleans region.

The New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee announced a $3 million grant program, Impact 59 Powered by Entergy, on July 23, 2024, at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.

Impact 59 will award grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 to individual nonprofit organizations or collaborative projects in 10 parishes in the Greater New Orleans area involving projects in youth development, workforce training, education, health and wellness, and equity and inclusion according to Drew Marsh, chair of the board and chief executive officer of Entergy.

"Hosting and executing an incredible game is just one aspect of our responsibility," said New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson. "Equally important is our commitment to supporting our community and creating a lasting positive impact. This is part of what we do - we must instill pride in our city, contribute to meaningful change, and ensure lasting resources for all those who work so hard to make the community a wonderful place to live."

Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, said that New Orleans' record-tying 11th Super Bowl is about much more than just a game.

"A large part of the success hinges on what we as the host committee decide and choose how to capitalize on the benefits that only a Super Bowl brings to the Greater New Orleans area and the entire state of Louisiana," Cicero said. "It is literally what we do. By supporting our organizations that are making and will continue to make a lasting impact in communities surrounding New Orleans, Impact 59 Powered by Entergy is leaving a legacy that extends far beyond what is going to happen on the field."

The committee also announced that they are putting together a team of "community champions" to assist the Super Bowl Host Committee in their community initiatives and announced NFL on FOX sideline reporter and New Orleans Pelicans sideline reporter Jen Hale as one of the community champions.

Hale, who founded her own educational nonprofit Sideline Pass, said the grants Impact 59 will award can be "pretty life changing for a lot of people in this city."

"New Orleans as wonderful it is, it has a lot of needs and unfortunately not a ton of money," Hale said. "So this pot of grant money is a tremendous opportunity for nonprofits to be able to receive some funding to continue touching lives and changing the city for the better."

The grant application is open through August 23 and non-profits can submit their application on nolasuperbowl.com. The 10 parishes in which nonprofits are eligible include Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. After the applications close, a grant selection committee made up of representatives from the NFL and local partners will review and select award recipients.

"Successful applicants will help people in New Orleans and our surrounding communities to reach their full potential, gain access to resources they need for personal growth, and create awareness and positive action in our community," Marsh said.

Cicero said the $3 million pool is the minimum amount that will be given out in grants.

"We're hopeful that if other companies are interested in being involved with this that they could give and that we could maybe continue to give some time to you after the Super Bowl," Cicero said.

The program is a partnership between the host committee, the New Orleans Saints, the NFL Foundation, Ochsner Health, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana and NOLA Coalition.

Mayor Latoya Cantrell, parish presidents for all 10 eligible parishes and council members from the 10 parishes were in attendance for the announcement of Impact 59.

Hale said there are many nonprofits who can benefit from the $3 million pool and that this money could impact the city for years after Super Bowl LIX.

"Opportunity is knocking and we have to answer," Hale said.

Photos: Super Bowl LIX Host Committee announces Super Bowl LIX Legacy Program, Impact 59

The New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, led by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the New Orleans Saints in partnership with Entergy, announced the Super Bowl LIX Legacy Program, "Impact 59 Powered by Entergy", to leave a legacy of philanthropy and economic benefit in conjunction with the Super Bowl LIX taking place on February 9, 2025. The program and its partners will award impactful grants to local nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Orleans region.