RCPS awarded Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation grant to Increase access to middle school and high school sports

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) was recently awarded more than $1.5 million by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to  increase access for students to participate in athletics at the middle school and high school level. RCPS was one of only six districts selected by the Foundation for thegrant, awarded over three years.

The grant will alleviate the cost for students to participate – including transportation costs – in boys and girls soccer, girls flag football, tackle football and volleyball at the middle school level, and in boys and girls golf, swimming, tennis and wrestling at the high school level; improve field conditions and play-space access at four middle schools, and provide high-quality performance equipment at the middle and high school level for athletes in these sports.

“We are thrilled to be selected for this generous grant, which will reduce the economic burden on families and open the doors for many more of our students to participate in the sports they love,” said Superintendent Shirley Chesser. “We extend our sincerest appreciation to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for this game-changing community partnership, which aligns with our district-wide commitment to the whole child by addressing barriers that impact engagement, attendance, and academic success. We are committed to ensuring every student has the chance to thrive on and off the field.”

RCPS Athletic Director Kechia Seabrooks-Rowles applauded the Foundation for awarding the grant RCPS.

“The grant funding will help us make athletics more inclusive and affordable by providing properly sized equipment and expanding sport offerings. These improvements will reduce costs for families, encourage multi-sport participation, and create new opportunities for RCPS students,” said Seabrooks-Rowles.

According to data from the Aspen Institute, the average U.S. family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46% increase since 2019. This grant funding will be utilized to alleviate the cost of participation, increase the variety of sports offered and improve the sports experience for students throughout Metro Atlanta.

“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and AMB Sports and Entertainment recognize and prioritize the importance of providing kids the opportunity to participate in sports,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay. “We are proud to partner with these six school districts to remove barriers of entry to sports and enhance the sports experience for their students. We anticipate this funding will impact more than 7,500 athletes at the middle and high school level across Metro Atlanta.”

School districts applied for grant funding to address specific needs in each of their counties. The grant was distributed to the following school districts:

• Clayton County Public Schools to create the district’s first coaching development program in partnership with A Better Way Athletics for its 27 middle and high schools.
• DeKalb County Public Schools to establish girls flag football programs at 18 middle schools and alleviate the cost to participate in middle school girls flag football.
• Fulton County Public Schools to alleviate the cost to participate – including transportation costs – in high school boys and girls soccer, golf, tennis and wrestling; provide high-quality performance equipment for athletes in these sports.
• Griffin-Spalding Public Schools to establish boys and girls soccer programs at all four middle schools; launch girls flag football programs at the middle school level; alleviate the cost to participate in middle school boys and girls soccer and girls flag football, and improve the quality of athletic fields utilized by its four middle schools.
• Gwinnett County Public Schools to establish girls flag football programs at 14 middle schools beginning in 2026; alleviate the cost to participate in boys and girls soccer at the middle school level, and install field lighting to improve safety and enhance scheduling capabilities at six athletic fields across the school district.
• Rockdale County Public Schools to alleviate the cost to participate – including transportation costs – in boys and girls soccer, girls flag football, tackle football and volleyball at the middle school level, and in boys and girls golf, swimming, tennis and wrestling at the high school level; improve field conditions and play-space access at four middle schools, and provide high-quality performance equipment at the middle and high school level for athletes in these sports.