Cypress Lake High School football receives $10,000 grant from Bill Belichick Foundation
Are the Panthers ready to 'Do Your Job?'
Cypress Lake High School's football program was one of 32 programs across the country selected to receive a $10,000 grant from the Bill Belichick Foundation.
"We were blessed to receive it," Panthers head coach Joey Mendes said.
The Bill Belichick Foundation, founded by the famed New England Patriots head coach and Linda Holliday, has provided support for student-athletes and athletic programs since 2013. The grant recognizes deserving athletic communities and organizations in need of financial support.
After writing an email to the foundation about why the grant money was necessary for the Panthers, Mendes found out his team was one of the organizations chosen about three weeks ago.
"We were just excited because any money helps," he said.
READ: De'Vondre Campbell hold annual football camp for local youths
MORE: Cypress Lake defensive coordinator Joey Mendes promoted to head coach
In his request, Mendes described the state of some of the football program's equipment, like their blocking bags which are "ripped up," he said.
“We continue to be inspired by coaches, athletic directors and volunteers for various sports programs who align their goals with ours and I’m proud that the Foundation can support 32 athletic organizations who will use the funds to build stronger teams,” Belichick said in the news release. “We look for programs who have taken the initiative to fundraise, illustrate plans for growth and show that they are benefiting their respective communities."
Pinellas County Sheriff's Police Athletic League, Inc. was the only other Florida recipient of the foundation's grant money.
Last year, Cypress Lake went 5-4 in the regular season before getting shut out 60-0 in the playoffs by Miami Killian. It was Mendes' first season as head coach.
Mendes said Cypress Lake plans to use the fund to help build the program by helping coaches to do their jobs better with new and improved equipment for the athletes to use.
"It's really going to help our program get better," Mendes said.
Follow News-Press Sports Reporter Dustin Levy on Twitter: @DustinBLevy. For additional coverage of sports across Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Bill Belichick Foundation picks Cypress Lake High School football for grant
