Kirtland Air Force Base Youth Center receives grant from NFL Published Dec. 12, 2005 By Lisa J. Tabet 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFMCNS) -- Youth at Kirtland can look forward to a new flag football program at the youth center. Earlier this year, the youth center wrote a grant submission to the Boys and Girls Club of America, requesting the NFL Youth Football Fund grant of $2,500. The youth center was selected out of 400 applicants for the grant. According to Gary Vicsik, the youth center director, the grant money was provided to help start up a new flag football program at the youth center. "I think it's a great opportunity for the kids to enjoy America's favorite sport." Mr. Vicsik said they will use the money to purchase materials needed for the new program including flags, tees and footballs. "Before this, we didn't have a flag football program. We really needed to have this for the kids." The program is scheduled to get off the ground spring 2006 and will be available for youth ages 5-18, he said. The youth center is required to implement its youth football program according to a specific plan. It must assign a project director, submit press announcements to local news media, and conduct pre-season and pre-game inspections of the equipment being used in the program. Other guidelines include conducting the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick national skills competition within the grant cycle. The grant cycle is October 2005 to June 2006. Mr. Vicsik said the youth center is already in possession of half of the grant money. It will receive the second half upon completion of the guidelines.