USRFF grant recipients

December 6, 2006

Regular readers to the column will know I frequently post links to eBay auctions run by former-USA Eagles rugby captain Brian Vizard. Viz is now the Executive Director of the United States Rugby Football Foundation and auctions jerseys to raise funds to develop the sport of rugby union in the United States. Here are some of the things he does with the funds:

UNITED STATES RUGBY FOOTBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES LATEST GRANT RECIPIENTS

The United States Rugby Football Foundation has announced its latest High School Start-Up Kit, Coaching and Refereeing, and Ball Grant recipients. Over the years, the USRFF has provided grants to numerous clubs, programs and individuals.

“As more and more youth and high school programs sprout up throughout the country the requests for start-ups and balls also increases,” said USRFF Executive Director, Brian Vizard. “The Foundation is happy to assist in the growth of the game here. We are also pleased to help those coaches and referees who are looking to raise their levels on the pitch.”

The recent High School Start-Up Kit Grant recipients include:
Benton County Blues, Rogers, AR
Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, KS
Carlisle Thunder Rugby, Carlisle, PA
Cheshire Rugby Club, Cheshire, CT
City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, Buffalo, NY
Eleanor Roosevelt High School Boys & Girls Rugby Clubs, Greenbelt, MD
Frederick Youth Rugby Football Club, Middletown, MD
Lancer Rugby Club, Rancho Cordova, CA
Marysville High School Rugby Club, Marysville, OH
Northeast Nomads High School RFC, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Northern Kentucky Gentlemen High School RFC, Villa Hills, KY
Papillion La Vista United, Papillion, NE
Rio Linda High School, Rio Linda, CA
San Luis Obispo Youth Rugby, San Luis Obispo, CA
Taravella High School Rugby Club, Coral Springs, FL
Waukesha Krusaders Girls Rugby Club, Waukesha, WI
Winter Park Warriors, Orlando, FL
Zionsville High School Boys RFC, Zionsville, IN

The recent Ball Grant recipients include:
Alameda Youth Rugby, Alameda, CA
Arizona Youth Rugby Federation, Scottsdale, AZ
Brighton Rugby Football Club, Covington, TN
CC Griffin Middle School, Midland, NC
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, Planada, CA
Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth Lake, NJ
Germantown U19 RFC, Memphis, TN
Knowledge Quest Academy, Milliken, CO
Madison County Youth Rugby, Madison, MS
North Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, NC
View Park Prep, Santa Monica, CA

The recent Coaching and Refereeing Grant recipients include:
Emerson Smith - Level One Referee and Developing Rugby Skills
Ruppert Baird - Level One Referee
Jeff Coffman - Introducing Rugby
Bart Nielsen - Introducing Rugby
Dana Manning-Salviuolo - Level One Referee
Joseph Capp - Introducing Rugby
Pete Smolin - Developing Rugby Skills

The USRFF is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization established in 1963. Although its main focus is supporting youth and high school rugby, the Foundation also provides grants to coaches and referees; establishes international student exchanges and college scholarships, has assisted the United States Collegiate All-Americans and Boys Under-19 teams, and also provides grants to Safety and Risk Management Research.

For more information about the United States Rugby Football Foundation, visit www.usrugbyfoundation.org.