With the backing of the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, over 300 high schools in Georgia will engage in girls flag football this fall. The foundation has issued grants to 304 high schools to either start or support existing programs for the upcoming season. In 2025, 45 new programs will be launched across Georgia.
The Falcons have been instrumental in expanding girls flag football in Georgia since they initiated a pilot program with 19 high schools in Gwinnett County in 2018. By 2020, Georgia had become the fourth state to officially recognize girls flag football as a high school sport. In 2024, participation grew to over 7,000 girls across more than 270 high schools.
In April, the Georgia House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 347. This bipartisan resolution was sponsored by several representatives including Brent Cox and Rick Jasperse, with support from Speaker Jon Burns. It encourages all Georgia high schools to create flag football programs for girls and marks the first legislative effort of its kind nationwide.
For further details on the Falcons’ initiatives to promote girls flag football in Georgia, visit their website at atlantafalcons.com/girls-flag-football.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation aims to transform lives by fostering unity among people from different backgrounds. Founded by Arthur M. Blank in 1995, it has donated over $1.3 billion towards various causes including youth development and mental health. The foundation also supports major Atlanta nonprofits like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center.
For more information about the foundation’s work, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
