Buffalo Bills, NFL Foundation Back New Community Field at BASCS
The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with the NFL Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, announced on Nov. 8, 2026, that Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School (BASCS) has received a grant through the NFL Foundation–LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program. The funding will support installation of a synthetic turf field at BASCS Middle School in Buffalo, New York. The grant was awarded to expand safe, high-quality places to play for students and local youth.
The new field will serve BASCS Middle School students during physical education classes and will host football programming, after-school activities, and league, intramural and junior varsity games. The school plans to offer a modified tackle football program and a modified girls flag football program on the surface. BASCS leadership said the project will create more opportunities for students to stay active, build confidence and participate in team sports.
The NFL Foundation and LISC have partnered for nearly 30 years to help communities build and refurbish football fields, and the Grassroots Field Grant Program has provided more than $70 million to support nearly 500 fields nationwide. Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation, said the program supports local leaders who create healthier communities and expand youth access to football. The long-running initiative pairs financing and technical assistance with local oversight to ensure fields are built and maintained for community use.
LISC identifies local nonprofit and community-based agencies interested in field projects and provides financing and technical guidance for construction and upkeep. Those local organizations oversee the construction, maintenance and programming for each field to ensure sustainable use. BASCS acknowledged support from the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program and the Paul A. Saffrin Foundation in advancing the project for students and neighborhood youth.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The grant to install synthetic turf at BASCS Middle School represents a tangible example of how the Buffalo Bills and national partners are investing in youth sports infrastructure in Western New York. By enabling daily physical education and expanded football programming, including both modified tackle and girls flag football, the project addresses access and equity in school athletics. The NFL Foundation–LISC model of combining capital grants with local oversight has produced hundreds of fields nationwide, and this project follows that proven approach to create a sustainable community asset. Local nonprofits will be responsible for long-term maintenance and programming, which will be critical to maximizing the field’s impact on student health and participation.