More than 40 youth football leagues and teams earned grants for new uniforms, equipment or other needs through NCAA Football’s Youth Initiative in association with Russell Athletic, Wilson Sporting Goods and Pop Warner.

Each recipient received $3,000 in credits that can be applied toward the purchase of NCAA Football replica jerseys and pants through Russell Athletic or footballs from Wilson. The funds also can be used to provide registration waivers to financially disadvantaged families.

This is the first year for the program. In order to earn a grant, teams and leagues applied through Pop Warner, citing financial need and explaining how the money would be used.

“NCAA Football is thrilled to be able to assist youth football leagues nationwide welcome new participants and motivate those participants to pursue a college education," said Bob Vecchione, chair of the Youth Initiatives Committee. "We're excited to see what these teams will accomplish with their grants, and we're looking forward to receiving even more applications for next year's program."

The purpose of the NCAA Football Youth Initiative is to increase youth participation in the game of football, provide additional motivation to participants to pursue higher education, provide participants with the necessary skills to be successful on and off the field and to establish life-long NCAA Football fans. Other outreach efforts by the initiative include Youth Day clinics that were held July and multiple events planned around the Bowl Championship Series national-championship game next January.

NCAA Football represents a coalition of the American Football Coaches Association, Collegiate Commissioners Association, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the NCAA.