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Rams Fitness First Club
The Rams Fitness First Club allows youth the opportunity to earn tickets
to Rams home games by putting “fitness first” and pledging to be active and make
healthy choices. The Rams Fitness First Club is an extension of Play 60,
an initiative of the NFL, which focuses on the health and wellness of young fans
by encouraging them to be active daily for at least 60 minutes. The
process for being selected as a Rams Fitness First Club member begins with a
pledge to Play 60 minutes a day and requires a plan on how the pledge will be
put into action. Those who are selected receive a unique game day
experience that includes a certificate acknowledging their pledge, a Rams Play
60 t-shirt, a Rams rally item, the opportunity to walk across the field of the
Edward Jones Dome prior to a game and a concession voucher.
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Diversity Awareness Partnership
An organization with a long tradition of
embracing diversity, the Rams were the first professional sports team in the
modern era to sign an African-American player — even before Jackie Robinson
broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Years later, the team remains committed
to promoting diversity and inclusion.
After helping launch the Diversity Awareness Partnership
(DAP) in 2000, the Rams have continued to unite
over 100 organizations in the effort to reduce bias and discrimination, and
promote the value of difference among the people of
St.
Louis.
An example of this collaboration is the Edward Jones’ Give Respect — Get
Respect Youth Program that has engaged middle and high school students, teachers
and members of today’s workforce in this pursuit of inclusion and
acceptance. For more information,
visit www.dapstl.org.
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Healthy Youth Partnership (HYP)
The Healthy Youth
Partnership (HYP) is a collaborative of more than 75 community organizations
from diverse sectors, which were brought together by the Rams Foundation and the
Greater St. Louis Community Foundation, to combat youth obesity and advance the
health of children and youth in the bi-state region. Together, they have
implemented a set of pilot programs, shared best practices to improve current
programming and built a network of resources to foster a regional commitment to
health outcomes for the area’s children. For more information, visitwww.healthyyouthpartnership.org.
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CHARACTERplus
The St. Louis Rams in partnership with CHARACTERplus® has supported the
development and expansion of important initiatives that help school communities
build consensus around the values and character traits that should be integrated
into the culture and curricula of the school. The programmatic initiatives
include the St. Louis Rams Huddle-Up micro web site and the Huddle-Up advisory
board. This year, the Rams will sponsor the Missouri Schools of Character
Awards program as well as the development of a Rams Caring Community School at
Patrick Henry Elementary.
CHARACTERplus®, a project of Cooperating School District, works to advance
the cause of character education and sustain its impact on the lives of
educators and students by: designing, promoting and facilitating processes and
best practices; serving educators and enhancing their commitment to character
education; actively recruiting and developing community support; and continually
evaluating the impact of programs and services.
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Go St. Louis
In an effort to
integrate long-standing support of literacy and education with a priority on
health and fitness, the St. Louis Rams will partner with Go St. Louis to offer a
challenge to area youth to a Read, Right
and Run Marathon, which includes reading 26 books, “righting” the community with 26 good
deeds, and running 26 miles over a six-month period.
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St. Louis Public Schools Rams Fitness Team
The Rams and St. Louis Public Schools have collaborated to create the Rams
Fitness Team, a program implemented in the St. Louis City schools that includes
football instruction through the inclusion of flag football and NFL Punt, Pass
and Kick clinics as a part of the curricula. Through a collaborative
arrangement with the Healthy Youth Partnership, professional development
opportunities are provided to all physical education teachers. The Rams Fitness
Team also recognizes the importance of physical education teachers in today’s
schools through the Physical Education Teacher of the Year
program.
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Youth Football
The Rams have joined with the NFL to identify opportunities to enhance,
promote and recognize positive aspects of football at every level. The team,
with support from the local chapter of the National Football Foundation and USA
Football, has led the way in promoting amateur football and youth development,
sportsmanship and academic excellence. As a part of these efforts, the
Rams host the St. Louis Rams/USA Football Youth Coaching School.
Additional efforts include saluting the accomplishments of local high school
coaches through the High School Coach of the Week program, providing free tackle
football camps to area middle school athletes through the Rams Junior Player
Development Program and offering pre-collegiate football and life skills
instruction through the NFL High School Player Development Program/ 7 on 7
Tournament. The Rams have also partnered with PHL, Inc. and the NFL
Grassroots Football Fields grant program to refurbish and maintain St. Louis
Public School athletic fields. Financially, the Rams have committed more
than $650,000 to provide safe and accessible football fields in the bi-state
area.
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Georgia Frontiere Community Quarterback Awards
In honor of late Rams’ owner and chairman, Georgia Frontiere, the St.
Louis Rams have renamed their annual Quarterback Awards the Georgia Frontiere
Community Quarterback Awards. The program will continue to award $20,000
to local non-profits in recognition of outstanding volunteer service.
Since the program’s inception in 2000, the Rams have donated more than $150,000
to community groups through this initiative.
The Georgia Frontiere Community Quarterback Award honors individuals who
exemplify leadership, dedication, and a commitment to improving the community in
which they live. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to nominate
individuals, age 13 or over, who serve local charities in a volunteer capacity
only and receive no monetary compensation for their efforts.
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Grassroots Program
The Grassroots Program is funded by NFL club owners, and administered in
partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The
initiative provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financing
and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of local football
fields and parks. In conjunction with this effort, the Rams have helped provide
more than $600,000 to renovate area fields at Matthews-Dickey Boys Club, Herbert
Hoover Boys and Girls Club, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys and Girls Club, and
Forest Park’s Aviation Field. In 2008, the Rams are working with PHL, Inc.
to refurbish the football field at Tandy Park in the Ville neighborhood of the
City of St. Louis.
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Hometown Huddle
Introduced in 1999, Hometown Huddle is a day for NFL players and coaches
from all 32 teams to come together and participate in various community service
activities through their local United Way partners. In addition to this specific
league wide initiative, the Rams continue to show their leadership and
commitment to the United Way of Greater St. Louis throughout the year and have
donated more than $700,000 since moving to St. Louis in 1995.
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Play It Smart
The Rams, through the NFL Youth Football Fund, have provided grants
totaling $100,000 to local Play It Smart high school programs as part of a $1
million commitment by the NFL and its clubs over two years. Play It Smart is a
unique program that uses the game of football to assist students with personal
development, decision-making, responsibility and leadership skills. The
objective of the program is to strengthen students’ academic and life skills as
well as physical abilities.
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Angel Tree Holiday Party
During the holidays, the Rams team up with the Bar Association of
Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) to open the Edward Jones Dome for more than 3,000
underprivileged children. The kids enjoy holiday gifts, live entertainment, a
book corner, activity booths, arts and crafts and visits with Santa. Rams
players, wives, cheerleaders and staff are actively involved as
volunteers.
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Back to School Store
Rams women have joined to assist in the annual Back to School Store. The
project is sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section
and provides 800 elementary school students from low-income families with new
clothing, winter coats, shoes, backpacks, personal care items, and school
supplies – free of charge. The children are selected by St. Louis area social
service agencies and congregations. In addition to clothing and school supplies,
children receive free dental screenings as well as free books, as part of the
Rams literacy efforts.
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Bikes for Kids
The Rams support Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis by hosting
the annual Bikes for Kids program, which provides new bicycles to children from
Variety partner agencies. In addition to a bike, each child receives a helmet
and fitting, bike lock, t-shirt and safety instruction. To date, Bikes for Kids
has provided bikes for more than 2,000 children. Each year, the Bikes for
Kids recipients are also invited to be special guests at a Rams home
game.
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Bowl-a-RAM-a
The Rams have helped to raise more than $160,000 through Bowl-a-RAM-a, an
annual event that benefits the Epilepsy Foundation of St. Louis. Through
prevention, education and advocacy, the Epilepsy Foundation enables people with
seizures to participate in all life experiences. The proceeds raised from this
event benefit the communities of eastern and southern Missouri as well as
southeastern Illinois.
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Everyday Hereos
Recognizing the significant daily contributions of our nations’ military,
as well as the St. Louis metropolitan area police and fire departments, the Rams
have honored these “everyday heroes” in a variety of ways over the past several
years, including in-game salutes and visits to Russell Training
Center.
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Giant Steps
Each year, Rams executive vice president and general counsel, Bob Wallace
opens up the Edward Jones Dome for the annual Giant Steps of St. Louis
Dinner/Auction benefiting autism education.
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Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure
The Rams have been involved with the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure
since the event’s inception in 1999. Participation has included sponsorship of
the event as well as having players and cheerleaders at the finish line to
congratulate participants and hand out pink roses to breast cancer survivors.
This year, Rams running back Steven Jackson and former defensive lineman D’Marco
Farr, both who had previously served as Race for the Cure honorary chairs,
returned as honorary co-chairs of the event as part of the Race’s 10-year
anniversary. In 2008, the Rams also formed “Team Georgia” and invited the public
to join in the fight against breast cancer in memory of the Rams late team owner
and chairman, Georgia Frontiere, who lost her valiant fight with breast cancer
in January of 2008. In its inaugural year, Team Georgia raised more than $23,000
to fund breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs both locally
and nationally.
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Linemen In Motion
Each year, the Rams offensive line hosts families in need at Russell
Training Center where they serve them Thanksgiving dinner.
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Rams Cheerleaders
Although mostly recognized for their entertaining performances on the
sidelines, the majority of the Rams cheerleaders' time is spent giving back to
the community. The squad averages more than 550 hours of charitable service and
850 appearances in the bi-state region annually. In addition to local
engagements, Rams cheerleaders entertain both nationally and internationally at
military bases. Again, this year, the cheerleaders will donate the proceeds from
their annual calendar to the Rams Foundation, which supports programs designed
to positively impact youth in the areas of education, literacy, health and youth
football. Last year, the cheerleaders contributed $25,000 to the Rams
Foundation.
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Rams Rookie Club
The Rams Rookie Club provides service to the community through a variety
of volunteer efforts designed specifically for first year players.
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Serving Up Wishes in Prime Time
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro St. Louis and the Rams have been
teaming up each year to make wishes come true for local children since the team
arrived in St. Louis in 1995. Rams players assist in Make-A-Wish’s fundraising
efforts by “working” as celebrity servers. Over the years, the event has raised
more than $630,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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Blood Drive
In cooperation with the American Red Cross, the Rams host an annual blood
drive. As part of the festivities, donors have the opportunity to mingle with
Rams players and wives, watch a Rams highlight video and receive a commemorative
T-shirt.
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Taste of the NFL-St. Louis
Each year, the Rams host the Taste of the NFL-St. Louis, a food and wine
tasting extravaganza, featuring samples from St. Louis’ top restaurants and
beverage providers. Attendees are able to sample specialty foods, bid on unique
items and meet the participating chefs and various Rams players. Taste of the
NFL-St. Louis has raised more than $275,000 for the St. Louis Area Foodbank and
the St. Louis Sports Commission.
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Urban League Thanksgiving Project
Annually, the Rams players, cheerleaders and staff work with the Urban
League of St. Louis and Schnucks Markets to distribute more than 1,000 turkey
dinners to local families for Thanksgiving.
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