Eskimo 50/50 Provides $250K Commitment to Golden Bears Football
Published on January 8, 2015 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
(Edmonton) - Today, the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club announced a commitment of a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship funds to support the University of Alberta Golden Bears football program - the largest donation ever made by the Esks to Golden Bears football.
The Eskimos will donate a minimum of $50,000 in athletic scholarships per year for five years. The first annual instalment was made in December and it is over and above previous donations that were already made.
"Our vision is to support and foster the development of amateur football. We need to help keep our best prospects right here in our own backyard," says Eskimo President and CEO Len Rhodes. "Our contribution is earmarked for scholarships so student-athletes can remain focused on excelling in both their on-field achievements and their academic studies. As a community-owned team, it's incumbent upon us to help develop leaders on and off the field."
The donated scholarship funds are generated through the Eskimo 50/50 program that also supports the Edmonton Huskies Junior Football Club, Edmonton Wildcats Junior Football Club, Football Alberta and the Eskimo Alumni Association's amateur football initiatives.
The Eskimos' $250,000 commitment will equate to $375,000 in scholarship dollars as a result of the University of Alberta's Athletic Scholarship Enhancement Fund. Through the fund, all donations meeting program criteria are matched one dollar for every two dollars donated.
"Over the past two seasons, in large part due to the overwhelming support of the Edmonton Eskimos, Golden Bears football has been resurrected from the ashes to become an up and coming program in the CIS," says Golden Bears Head Coach and Eskimo alumnus Chris Morris. "The Edmonton Eskimos expansion of this support is a direct reflection of this organization's strong support of our community and belief that the Golden Bears football program is an outstanding place where young men are challenged to meet their true potential both on and off the field. I want to thank the Edmonton Eskimo organization, as well as both Len Rhodes and Ed Hervey personally, for placing trust in both myself and the Golden Bears football program to shepherd the young men of this community into becoming outstanding student-athletes, and future community leaders in the Capital Region."
Today's donation announcement is part of the Eskimo commitment to support amateur football across Northern Alberta that also includes an Annual Amateur Football Summit led by Eskimo General Manager Ed Hervey, an annual amateur football camp held each spring, the Eskimo Novice Flag Football League and guest coaching throughout the year by players.
Quick Facts:
The Eskimos began donating to Golden Bears football through the 50/50 program in 2012 after automating the ticket purchase system.From 2012 to 2014, other Eskimo donations already made to Golden Bears football were $50,000, $35,000 and $70,000 respectively. On July 24, 2014, the Eskimo 50/50 program set a North American record with a single-game take home jackpot of $348,534, won by 20-year-old Connor Croken of Edmonton. Last season, 10 lucky winners won a record over $1.1-million at home games through the Eskimo 50/50 program.
Canadian Football League Stories from January 8, 2015
- REDBLACKS Sign Four Draftees from 2014 - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Lions Lock-In Arakgi and Thorn with Contract Extensions - B.C. Lions
- Eskimo 50/50 Provides $250K Commitment to Golden Bears Football - Edmonton Elks
- Simon Says He's Staying - Calgary Stampeders
- Ryan Lucas Announces Retirement - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
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