Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced a plan Wednesday to provide every district run public high school athletic program with new or improved sports fields.The announcement is part of a $15 million partnership with the Tennessee Titans and the Foundation for Athletics in Nashville Schools, Inc. (The Fans Inc), a non-profit organization dedicated to endowing athletic programming at Metro Nashville Public Schools.“Today’s announcement means that by the time the Titans have a new home field for gameday, every public high school in Nashville will have a home field advantage too,” said Mayor John Cooper. “High school sports bring neighborhoods together. In my first three years as Mayor, we’ve made the biggest investment in our classrooms in the history of our city. As I travel around Nashville, I see how important it is that we invest in every part of our kids’ lives, including sports. Our students are making strides in test scores and excelling academically, and their teams are going to the playoffs and winning championships. It’s time we meet them halfway by giving them the high-quality facilities they deserve.”“We are deeply committed to educating well-rounded students and investing in their success inside and outside the classroom," said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Metro Nashville Public Schools Director. "Our young athletes and incredible staff make the School Board and all of MNPS proud every day, and they deserve facilities that match their outstanding effort and commitment. I’m grateful to Mayor Cooper, the Titans and our private partners for making this dream a reality, and hope this exciting announcement will help inspire the next generation of MNPS athletes."Under the partnership, each district-run high school will receive $1 million to help build a new athletic field or improve existing athletic facilities. Mayor Cooper proposes to provide a third of the funding through Metro Nashville’s forthcoming capital spending plan.The remaining funding would come from the Tennessee Titans and private donors. The Titans have committed to donate $5 million over 5 years to MNPS athletics and through The Fans Inc. The remaining third of the cost would be raised from private donors by The Fans Inc.’s fundraising campaign.“Nashville welcomed the Titans with open arms nearly twenty-five years ago, and since then the team and its vast network of former players, coaches and fans have become an integral part of this city's cultural fabric, said Eddie George, Head Football Coach at Tennessee State University and former Titans great. "It's about way more than just football -- it's about making Nashville the kind of city where we want to raise our families and where everyone can thrive. Today's announcement is just the latest example of how the Tennessee Titans organization cares deeply about the Nashville community and its future.""We're thrilled to join a project that will demonstrate our collective commitment to MNPS athletics," said Jamie Hollin, President of The Fans inc. "Boys and girls of all ages, from every neighborhood, will soon be competing on premier fields and benefiting from this unique partnership. I appreciate Mayor Cooper and the Tennessee Titans coming together to get this done.”Anyone wishing to contribute to this effort is encouraged to text HOMEFIELD to 615-488-4670.¶
