Packers surprise area athletes with helmets

GREEN BAY, WI—(WGBW)— Student-athletes and coaches from Oshkosh North High School, Shiocton High School, and Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac received new helmets for their teams from the Green Bay Packers.

The students and coaches were in Green Bay today for a community volunteer day at Titletown. However, packing flag football kits and assisting with a football outreach camp was a ruse.

While having lunch, the teams were surprised when Packers alumnus Jarrett Bush unveiled brand-new helmets that the teams will receive for their upcoming seasons.

The Packers Helmet Give Back Program selected 10 schools to receive $7,500 worth of helmets for their football program. In addition to the ones surprised today, seven other Wisconsin high school football programs were awarded $7,500 worth of brand-new Schutt and VICIS helmets: Appleton West, Flambeau, Ladysmith, Madison La Follette, Milwaukee Obama, Shorewood-Messmer and Regis. The programs will receive their custom-made helmet packages this summer to supplement or replace their existing equipment inventory.

“We’re proud to partner with Certor Sports and Ticketmaster to provide new helmets to 10 Wisconsin high school football programs,” said Ryan Fencl, Packers football outreach manager. “Player safety is a priority, and this donation ensures that athletes competing for the recipient programs have the necessary equipment to safely take the field and pursue their dreams.”

This year, more than 120 coaches and athletic directors statewide submitted applications to be considered for new helmets, with many of the schools demonstrating great need for donated equipment to serve the number of students in their athletic programs and to conduct their football programs safely. As football helmets are essential to participating in football, many youth and high school football programs must devote their small budgets to purchasing helmets or focus their fundraising efforts on raising enough for helmets, instead of other necessary equipment or training tools.

Packers Give Back is the team’s all-encompassing community outreach initiative that includes the Green Bay Packers Foundation, appearances made by players, alumni, coaches and staff, football outreach, cash and in-kind donations, Make-A-Wish visits, and community events. The annual overall charitable impact of Packers Give Back exceeds $13 million.