The 49ers have not only enjoyed tremendous on-field success during the 2012 season, but have encountered major victories off the field through the San Francisco 49ers Foundation and Community Relations efforts.
The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 21st year, the 49ers Foundation supports development programs for underserved youth that keep them, "Safe, On Track, and In School." Since its inception, the Foundation has donated nearly $20 million to support non-profits, including $2.9 million in 2012, which is a 25 percent increase from 2011.
This season, 100 percent of the team's players participated in one or more community events, contributing 323.5 hours of service to the community. In addition, 49ers alumni, coaching staff, front office, and family members contributed 376.5 hours of service. Top participants and winners of the Community Relations Service Awards were LB Darius Fleming, who won the rookie player award, TE Delanie Walker, who won this season's veteran player award, and Dennis Brown, who won the alumnus award.
The 49ers community involvement served to touch many lives this season. Some of the primary beneficiaries include the San Francisco 49ers Academy in East Palo Alto - a middle school for underserved youth; Hedge Funds Care, promoting the eradication of child abuse; Center for Youth Wellness; City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley; Fresh Lifelines for Youth – a non-profit dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence, crime and incarceration of teens; Bayview Hunters Point YMCA; College Summit and Year Up! in cooperation with BlackRock's Connectivity and Giving Event; and the Touchdowns for Kids Program.
One focal point of giving was City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley. City Year works to place young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep the students at low-income schools in the Alum Rock area and other school districts throughout the nation in school. City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley has been the main beneficiary of many of the 49ers Foundation's key fundraising events, including 49ers Winter Fest and the Pasta Bowl.
A new initiative in 2012 was supporting the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW), a multifaceted total wellness center for underserved youth and their families in Bayview Hunters Point. The 49ers Foundation has made a commitment to donate $300 thousand over three years to create a "49ers Huddle" intake center for CYW clients.
During the 2012 season, the 49ers Foundation also completed a $1 million challenge grant for Bayview Hunters Point YMCA. The year also marked the second season of the Taube/Koret Touchdowns for Kids program. In 2011, Touchdowns for Kids raised $200 thousand through on-field performance-tied donation and matching grants. The total was distributed to six beneficiaries – 49ers Academy, Bayview Hunters Point YMCA, East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, Eastside College Preparatory Academy, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. The program continued in 2012, raising funds to support 49ers Academy, Aim High, Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI), BUILD, Pathways for Kids and Summer Search. Expected to distribute $500,000 in early 2013, the program has been a resounding success and will continue during the 2013 season.
The 49ers Foundation efforts do not end when the season does, as events coming up in 2013 include, 49ers Winter Fest (March 21st—24th), Hedge Funds Care (April 18th), Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance (July 21st), Pasta Bowl (July), 49ers Academy Gala (Fall 2013) and BlackRock Connectivity (Fall 2013).
For more on the 49ers Foundation, please visit www.49ersfoundation.com or call (408) 562-4949
