Call it neighbor helping neighbor, if you will. The San Francisco 49ers football team donated thousands of dollars of workout equipment to three high schools in the team’s “backyard.” MacDonald, Wilcox and Santa Clara high schools all received donations of much-needed football equipment that will help their respective programs succeed.
Paul Rosa, the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Wilcox High School, said the donation is a huge help because when it comes to sports like football, keeping the kids safe is first and foremost, and that often doesn’t leave extra money for the other items.
“There are things that maybe you want to have, but you can’t get because of the budget that you have has to go to safety items like helmets or shoulder pads and stuff like that,” said Rosa. “That stuff’s expensive, so you don’t really have any left over for the bags, the tires, stuff that we actually really want, but we usually can’t get. So, it’s nice to get stuff that you want, can’t afford.”
MacDonald football Head Coach Burt Codera is building his school’s football program from the ground up. The team just completed its first varsity season, and this equipment will give the program a major boost.
“I’ve been needing a lineman chute, but they’re about three or $4,000, so it’s been a little bit out of the budget,” said Codera. “We struggle with the budgets and having all the equipment that we need, and so when they’re able to give back and donate, it just really benefits the kids and helps out the program.”
Nelson Gifford, the athletic director and head football coach at Santa Clara High School, says donations like this can have a multi-year effect on a high school football program.
“The daily equipment needs that we have and things like sleds, right? The last sled we had was purchased probably 15 years ago,” said Gifford. “So, to be able to get something like this is a decade-long investment.”
Gifford says that while the budgetary savings are definitely a highlight, he also appreciates what this donation means to the kids playing the sport.
“It’s professional-level equipment,” said Gifford. “The kids can kind of be inspired to know that their heroes worked and developed on that equipment.”
In total, the 49ers donated over $20,000 of workout and football training equipment to the three Santa Clara Unified School District high schools. In partnership with U.S. Bank, this is part of the 49ers Cares program, aimed at providing Santa Clara with “outstanding community support and life-changing opportunities.”
