Project Success awarded $100,000 grant by Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee (MNSBHC) Legacy Fund today awarded Project Success a $100,000 grant to equip and staff a learning center that will use high-tech and high-touch experiences to help Minneapolis students develop skills for healthy and successful futures. This new resource will provide hundreds of middle and high school students with the ability to complete courses that earn school credit, develop tech skills and earn certifications in subjects such as health, wellness and physical education.

The grant is part of the Super Bowl Legacy Grant Program, which is made possible each year by a $1 million contribution courtesy of the NFL Foundation and is complemented by the Super Bowl Host Committee. Through its 52 Weeks of Giving campaign, the MNSBHC has launched a year-long effort to make Super Bowl LII a statewide event by awarding 52 communities with grants to help improve the health and wellness of young people in Minnesota.

The new institute at Project Success aims to impact the long-term health and wellbeing of student minds, bodies and spirits. With technology provided by Best Buy, the institute will offer hands-on engagement and education, actionable programs and tech resources that enable students to achieve their goals.  Through the institute, Minneapolis-area students will have the opportunity to meet community influencers; build their personal and professional networks; and gain experiences and understanding of emerging trends, technologies and health and wellness programs like yoga and physical education, nutrition and cooking.

“One major obstacle for on-time graduation can be a lack of opportunities outside of the school building, that allow students to make up classes and credits,” said Adrienne Diercks, Founder and Executive Director of Project Success. “We’re grateful to the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee Legacy Fund for this grant, because it will help us give students much-needed chances to earn class credit, but also critical life skills and experiences for a better future in a safe and healthy environment.”

Project Success, the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and Best Buy today hosted a special event for high school students at the Project Success institute. To celebrate the MNSBHC Legacy Fund grant, Sioux Chef Sean Sherman hosted a cooking class to teach important basics related to preparing nutritious meals and how to leverage edible indigenous plants right in their own backyards. Students also received Fitbits from Best Buy and instructions on how to use this tech tool to live a healthier life. Finally, with the help of Geek Squad Agents, the students were first to tour and explore the Project Success institute, which features advanced technology, like smart TVs, 3D printers and computers provided by Best Buy.

“At Best Buy, we are committed to helping enrich people’s lives through technology. This commitment to Project Success helps ensure that young people experience the benefits of technology and are prepared for the tech-reliant jobs of the future,” said Laura Bishop, Chief Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Officer at Best Buy. “Providing youth with access to the technology skills they will need to thrive in a competitive workforce is one of the ways we contribute to supporting healthy and thriving communities.”

The institute at Project Success will help 250 students earn credit through health and wellness courses over the first year. Classes and certifications will be offered outside of normal school hours in deliberate response to the needs of students who attend alternative schools or need services that extend beyond the traditional school day.  The institute expects to serve middle and high school students from 27 schools in Minneapolis.

“We are pleased to contribute to this program, which is just one incredible resource Project Success offers to the young people of Minneapolis,” said Dana Nelson, Vice President of Legacy and Community Partnerships at the MNSBHC Legacy Fund. “The institute will provide new opportunities for students to earn credits and play an important role in improving their overall wellbeing by creating healthy habits they will have for a lifetime.”

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee is a private, non-profit corporation formed to plan and execute Super Bowl LII.  For more information visit www.mnsuperbowl.com and follow @mnsuperbowl2018 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.