ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cotton Bowl Foundation and College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation partnered once again, this time with support from Amazon, to make it a Big Day for Teachers during the 2025 edition of Extra Yard for Teachers Week, awarding a total of $250,000 to four organizations dedicated to supporting teachers, educators and students in the North Texas community.

The Meadows Elementary in DeSoto hosted the two foundations' sixth Big Day for Teachers presentation and what a big day it was. The Cotton Bowl Foundation and CFP Foundation awarded grants of $50,000 to Catch Up & Read, Educate Texas and United to Learn. City Year Dallas also received $50,000 from the two foundations as well as an additional $50,000 from Amazon, bringing its grant total to $100,000.
 
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and CFP Foundation made it an extra special day for the four organizations, providing Classic-branded backpacks filled with gifts and Extra Yard for Teachers bags filled with EYFT-branded gifts. The educators representing the four organizations received a couple of extra surprises. Each backpack included two tickets to the 2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium. In addition, each educator will receive a $500 DonorsChoose card courtesy of the CFP Foundation.
 
"We are proud of our commitment to our community, especially our continued support of teachers and educators across North Texas with partners and friends like the College Football Playoff Foundation and Amazon," said W. Kelvin Walker, Chair, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and Cotton Bowl Foundation. "As a son, grandson and brother of educators, it brings me so much joy to amplify the work our Cotton Bowl Foundation does to show educators how much we appreciate what they do to help our children be successful in the classroom and beyond."
 
"Our College Football Playoff Foundation gets to work year-round to support K through 12 education across the country and, in particular, teachers. We are proud to be able to do that," said Britton Banowski, Executive Director, CFP Foundation. "Great teachers change lives and we truly believe that. I am so proud of our partnership with the Cotton Bowl Foundation. We truly enjoy supporting educators across North Texas who are making a difference. We enjoy identifying organizations that are actually doing the work, day in and day out, on campuses to change the lives of teachers and change the lives of students."
The four organizations recognized during this year's Big Day for Teachers change lives through providing various levels of resources, training and leadership opportunities for teachers and educators to thrive and create impactful educational environments for students to thrive in all phases of life.
 
Catch Up & Read is a nonprofit, community-funded organization that is transforming the lives of at-risk elementary students in the Dallas and  Fort Worth Independent School Districts by equipping them to read on grade level by third grade. The organization collaborates with teachers, principals and administrators on an instruction and tutoring program that drives extraordinary and sustainable results.
 
"Thanks to the Cotton Bowl Foundation and College Football Playoff Foundation for championing Catch Up & Read teachers," said Carol Goglia, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catch Up & Read. "This grant equips our educators with training, tools and coaching that will accelerate reading skill growth in students across North Texas. Thanks to both foundations, more first-, second- and third-grade students will gain the skills and confidence they need to read and succeed in school and life."
 
City Year is a service-centric program with locations in 29 U.S. cities that unites and empowers young adults ages 17 to 25 from different backgrounds and charges them with addressing some of our country's most difficult challenges that can change the world for the better.
 
"City Year Dallas is honored to receive this generous gift from the Cotton Bowl Foundation,  College Football Playoff Foundation and Amazon," said Heather Holland, Executive Director, City Year Dallas. "This investment helps us continue supporting both students and educators, ensuring every classroom has the encouragement and resources needed for our students and teachers to be successful. We are deeply grateful for this partnership that uplifts both teachers and the next generation of leaders."
 
Educate Texas, an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, is a trusted change agent in the education space that provides solutions through programs and practices, instills change through policy and convenes the right partnerships and networks for action.
 
"Educate Texas works alongside educators and partners like the Cotton Bowl Foundation and College Football Playoff Foundation to address big challenges in public education," said Dr. Kerri Briggs, Executive Director, Educate Texas. "By expanding educator career pathways, supporting strong preparation programs, and advancing thoughtful policies, we are aiming to grow the number of excellent teachers in Texas so that every student can thrive. We are grateful for this support and the chance to highlight the value of teachers in our communities."
 
United to Learn is an education nonprofit with a proven model for mobilizing community partners to close opportunity gaps among Dallas-area public elementary schools and awareness gaps across the community, accelerate student achievement and develop purposeful leaders.
 
"United to Learn empowers Dallas ISD elementary schools with the tools, resources and support to help students thrive," said Tim Hise, Chief Executive Officer, United to Learn. "Together with educators and community partners, we expand what's possible on campuses and help more students reach milestones like reading on grade level by third grade, opening doors to lifelong success."
 
The Cotton Bowl Foundation and CFP Foundation have been partners in helping teachers be successful inside and outside of classrooms since 2016. The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity in America supporting educators. The foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) platform has collectively invested more than $92 million to support educators. The organization has supported more than 650,000 teachers nationwide, creating a positive impact for more than 13 million students and 81,000 schools. The Big Day for Teachers, which is part of EYFT Week, is the largest single-day effort of community impact by the extended college football family.
 
The Cotton Bowl Foundation, the official foundation of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, serves North Texas by supporting programs that improve opportunities for underserved youth with the vision of making an impact on those who play the game, attend the game and support the game. Since 2016, the Cotton Bowl Foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants and financial support benefiting non-profit organizations in the surrounding communities.

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