For Immediate Release
Mark Goldberg, 719.532.8436
mgoldberg@calcas.com
 
 

California Casualty Teams Up With 87 High Schools, Awarding Over $100,000 in 2015 Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants

 

San Mateo, CA, April 1, 2015 … Eighty seven high schools from 29 states will share $100,200 in athletics grants from California Casualty. Many of the schools have student populations that receive free or reduced-cost lunches and subsequently have fewer and fewer dollars allocated to sporting programs.

The grant is named after California Casualty Chairman Emeritus Thomas R. Brown, who recognized that teamwork and success on the field translated to the classroom.  Since its inception in 2011, over $400,000 has been awarded to help more than 300 public high schools across the nation. California Casualty's continued support is essential for these schools, as evidenced by a recent article in Public School Review which cited how severe cuts threaten to eliminate high school sports programs in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida. A student survey by LA Youth found a third of high school students now pay for uniforms for the sports they play.

The funds will help the schools purchase much needed athletic equipment, offset participation fees, and improve safety for their student-athletes. Examples include:

  • The boys baseball team at McCluer North High in Missouri which will use the grant to help purchase a field tarp and baseballs for the program which has seen dramatic budget cuts. The coach says the school is located in the Ferguson area and has been severely impacted by the recent community unrest.
  • Frankfort Community High in rural Illinois will be able to replace worn and inadequate uniforms used by the winter sports teams. Seventy five percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and the school district has ended funding for athletics.
  • In Oregon, Alliance High, Portland's only in-district alternative high school will have new resources to provide shoes and uniforms for the basketball team that is in its second year. The district provides no funding for the program and the athletic director says the majority of his students come from extremely impoverished families that can't afford participation fees or the cost of sneakers.
  • The Leap Academy University Charter School in New Jersey will purchase basketballs and other equipment; items the coach has been paying for out of his own pocket because the school allocates no dollars for the program.

"California Casualty understands the important role athletics play in the education of our youth," said Doug Goldberg, Senior Vice President. "We have partnered with education associations for 64 years and we are honored to give back."

Applications for the 2015/2016 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants are now being taken at www.CalCasAthleticsGrant.com. The deadline for consideration is January 15, 2016.

California Casualty has other initiatives that give back to educators for all the hard work they do, including the $7,500 School Lounge Makeover, www.SchoolLoungeMakeover.com  and the $2,500 Academic Award, www.CalCasAcademicAward.com.

A complete list of the 2014/2015 recipients follows.

Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement, firefighters and nurses in 44 states. Celebrating 100 years of service, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.CalCas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.

 

2014/2015 Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant Recipients

Alabama
Ashville High School
Goshen High School
Florala High School
Russellville High School

Arizona
Coronado High School
Ironwood High School
Westview High School

California
Adolph Leuzinger High School
Baldwin Park High School
Bonsall High School
Covina High School
Gunderson High School
John C. Kimball High School
John F. Kennedy High School
Morse High School
Narbonne High School
Ramona High School
Simi Valley High School
Sweetwater High School
Tustin High School
Woodland High School

Colorado
Florence High School
Sierra Grande High School
Sterling High School

Connecticut
ACES Whitney High School
East/West

Delaware
Lake Forest High School

Florida
Golden Gate High School

Idaho
Canyon Ridge High School Nezperce
High School

Illinois
Carlyle High School
Central Community High School
Crab Orchard High School
Frankfort Community High School
Mount Olive High School

Indiana
Bloomington High School North
Eastern Greentown High School
Fairfield High School
Goshen High School
Mishawaka High School

Iowa
George Washington High School

Kansas
Crest High School
Moundridge High School

Kentucky
Frederick Fraize High School
Phelps High School

Maryland
Aberdeen High School
Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School

Minnesota
Cleveland K-12 School
North Community High School
Patrick Henry High School

Missouri
Battle High School
McCluer North High School
Raytown Senior High School

Nevada
Sunrise Mountain High School

New Hampshire
Goffstown High School Profile School

New Jersey
Brick Memorial High School
Glassboro High School
Kittatinny Regional High School
LEAP Academy University Charter School
Wallington High School

New Mexico
Piedra Vista High School
Springer High School

Ohio
Amanda-Clearcreek High School
Ansonia High School
Coldwater High School

Oregon
Alliance High School
Clatskanie Middle/High School
Hillsboro High School
Oregon City High School
West Albany High School

Pennsylvania
Bethlehem-Center Sr. High School
Brentwood High School
North Clarion Jr.-Sr. High School
Northgate High School

Tennessee
Central High School

Texas
Burges High School
Cypress Springs High School

Utah
Independence High School
Wayne High School

Virginia
Courtland High School
Petersburg High School

Washington
Cleveland High School
Lake Quinault High School
Stanwood High School
Washington High School

Wyoming
H.E.M. Jr/Sr. High School Shoshoni High School

 

Ironwood High Football Team from Glendale Arizona

2015 Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant Awardee
The Ironwood High School Football Team