RCPS awarded Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Grant to Increase Access for Middle School and High School Sports

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) was recently awarded more than $1.5 million by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation towards increasing access by alleviating the cost 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 this grant, awarded over three years.

RCPS was granted $1.575 million 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.

Superintendent Shirley Chesser said “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. 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 Dr. Kechia Rowles-Seabrooks said, “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.”

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.”

Pictured below: The Atlanta Falcons and Rich McKay visited RCPS in November 2019 during the Conyers Cup Tournament for Flag Football, one of the many sports supported by the grant awarded in 2025-2026 by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to RCPS for increasing access to a wide variety of sports at the middle school and high school level.