Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
At Mosaic Stadium last year, fans attending Saskatchewan Roughriders games purchased $3.6 million dollars in 50/50 draw tickets.
Winners of those draws took home a combined $1.8 million — or 50 per cent.
The other 50 per cent? That’s going to support amateur football in the province.
On Thursday inside the Kelly Hamilton Equipment Room at Regina’s Leibel Field, the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation announced a $590,000 donation to Football Saskatchewan as part of the $1.8 million that the foundation will hand out this year.
The majority of the financial commitment to Football Saskatchewan will go toward the purchase of 1,000 new football helmets to be distributed to more than 125 football programs across the province.
“We talk about the future and how we’re going to grow, and how we’re going to spread the game across the province,” said Football Saskatchewan CEO Jeff Yausie. “It literally started as kind of a safety initiative, because helmets have a lifespan.
“It’s a safety initiative and it’s going to help us keep growing the game, and more importantly, keep the cost down for entry level players. It is a sport for all and the lower that barrier is, the more kids we’re going to have try the game.”
The $1.8 million commitment is the largest investment back to the province that the foundation has made since it was formed in 2019. Last year, the foundation gave $1.2 million back to amateur football.
“It’s the single biggest investment we’ve ever made into amateur football and grassroots football in the province,” said Saskatchewan Roughriders CEO Craig Reynolds. “Every corner of the province is going to receive a benefit from this money and in particular, these helmets.”
The foundation will also support the University of Regina Rams, University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Regina Thunder, Regina Riot, Saskatoon Hilltops, Saskatoon Valkyries and various other amateur football programs in the province.
“Every single penny from the 50/50 goes back to amateur football,” said Cindy Fuchs, executive director of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. “We made that commitment with our board about three years ago and every year, it just grows and grows.
“Hopefully from this point on, we get all the minor football clubs across this province at a place where they can keep up the changing of the helmets and making sure that they are always fresh and always safe.”
Along with the Northern Football League, communities receiving helmets include Assiniboia, Balgonie, Biggar, Broadview, Carrot River, Central Butte, Clavet, Delisle, Eatonia, Esterhazy, Estevan, Foam Lake, Fort Qu’Appelle, Gull Lake, Hafford, Hague, Hanley, Humboldt, Indian Head, Ituna/Kelliher, Kerrobert, Lanigan, Lemberg, Lloydminster, Lumsden, Macklin, Maple Creek, Martensville, Melfort, Melville, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, Nipawin, North Battleford/Battleford, Outlook, Plenty, Preeceville, Prince Albert, Regina, Rosetown, Rosthern, Saskatoon, Shaunovan, Southey, St. Brieux, Swift Current, Tisdale, Unity, Viscount, Wakaw/Cudworth, Watrous, Weyburn, Wilcox, Wynyard and Yorkton.
tshire@postmedia.com
