BALTIMORE — Thirty-six lacrosse organizations in 25 states will receive US Lacrosse Equipment Grants this year. The US Lacrosse Equipment Grant Program, in its tenth year, is an annual offering of US Lacrosse. Since the inception of the Equipment Grant Program, US Lacrosse has granted equipment to 260 fledgling lacrosse programs with the retail value of more then $1,440,000.

The boys’ lacrosse team at Harlan Community Academy High School (Chicago, Ill.) received an equipment grant in 2007. "Because of this grant, many firsts for Harlan lacrosse occurred," said Greg Simmons, head boys’ lacrosse coach at Harlan. "We became the first public school on the south side of Chicago with a lacrosse program and the fifth school in the Chicago public school system with a boys’ lacrosse program. In addition, Harlan became the first predominately African American school in Chicago with a program and the only predominately African American school in the state of Illinois with a lacrosse program. Furthermore, by my estimation, Harlan became the one of twenty (or so) public school programs in the nation whose population was predominately African American."

"None of this would have been possible if not for the generous support of US Lacrosse. The players, coaching staff and I thank the organization from the bottom of our hearts for the opportunities this grant has provided our school."

Steve Stenersen, president and CEO of US Lacrosse, noted that "While US Lacrosse continues to increase its investment in this program each year, we’re also fortunate to benefit from the generous contributions of equipment from manufacturers Brine, Warrior, STX, Cascade and Shamrock which enable us to do so much more."

Lacrosse programs applying for a grant must show a demonstrated financial need and priority is given to those residing in a state or region where lacrosse opportunities are currently limited or absent. Applicants can choose from a girls’ package, boys’ package, program (boys’ and girls’) package or a physical education program package.

The girls’ package includes: 24 field player sticks, 24 pairs of protective eyewear, 1 goalie stick and full protective equipment for 1 goalie (including helmet).

The boy’s package includes: 24 field player sticks and 1 goalie stick, full protective equipment for 24 field players and 1 goalie (gloves, arm guards, shoulder pads, and helmets).

The program package includes: 20 field girls’ player sticks, 20 pairs of protective eyewear, 1 girls’ goalie stick, full protective equipment for 1 girls’ goalie (including helmet), 20 boys’ field player sticks, 1 boys’ goalie stick, full protective equipment for 20 boys’ field players and 1 goalie (gloves, arm guards, shoulder pads, and helmets).

The physical education program package includes: 30 physical education soft lacrosse sticks and 30 balls.

The following programs have been awarded grants for the 2008 cycle of the US Lacrosse Equipment Grant Program:

Boys Packages:
Loftis Middle School Club Lacrosse – Hixson, TN
Andover Youth Lacrosse Association – Wichita, KS
North Coast Youth Lacrosse Club – Carlsbad, CA
Northeast Youth Lacrosse – Chapel Hill, NC
Flagstaff Lacrosse – Fairhope, AZ
Orr Academy High School – Chicago, IL
San Fernando Valley Lacrosse – Northridge, CA
City of Charleston Recreation Department – Daniel Island, SC
Susan Chlebowski – New Berlin, PA
Norcross High School Boys Lacrosse – Norcross, GA
Stowe Boys Youth Lacrosse – Stowe, VT
Springfield Lacrosse Club – Springfield, NJ

Program Packages:
The Marshal Family YMCA – Evans, GA
Winter Garden Youth Lacrosse League – Winter Garden, FL
Juneau Lacrosse – Juneau, AK
City Lacrosse – Buffalo, NY
Gainesville Lacrosse Association – Gainesville, FL
Lower Alabama Youth – Birmingham, AL
Bethel Recreation Department – Bethel, ME
Brookfield Lacrosse Association – Brookfield, WI
New Orleans College Prep – New Orleans, LA

Girls Packages:
Farmington High School Girls Club Team – Farmington, MN
Harmony Hills ES – Silver Spring, MD
Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy – Melbourne, FL
KIPP Ujima Village Academy – Baltimore, MD
Lacrosse of Pueblo – Pueblo, CO
Olmsted Academy South Girls Lacrosse Club – Louisville, KY
Three Rivers Lacrosse Club – Richland, WA
Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School – Brooklyn, NY
Villa Maria Academy – Erie, PA

Physical Education Packages:
Alimacani Elementary School – Jacksonville, FL
Buchanan High School – Buchanan, MI
Dunn Elementary School – Louisville, KY
Maryville Middle School – Maryville, TN
Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School – Palatine, IL
Tarwater Elementary School – Chandler, AZ

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 250,000 members in 60 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.