GREENVILLE – Greenville native and three-time Super Bowl champion Matt Light will return to his hometown to present the NFL Super Bowl High School Honor Roll award to his high school alma mater.
He will present the award at Greenville High School during halftime of the Green Wave’s home football game against Sidney on Friday.
In honor of the 50th Super Bowl year, the NFL is presenting all high schools, with player or head coach alumni (honorees), with a golden football commemorating the Super Bowl years of their former graduate. The footballs will have the honoree’s name and years they appeared in a Super Bowl game. Their initiative aims to celebrate high schools, players, coaches and the communities which have shaped student athletes through the game of football.
“It is an honor to be able to present this award to my high school,” Light said. “They allowed me to play football and instilled great values, which I still carry with me. The NFL is doing a great service by recognizing the schools and communities which shaped their current and former athletes. Giving back is what it is all about, and this is a unique way to give back to the roots of our game.”
This Super Bowl High School Honor Roll program will become an annual tradition in the NFL so they can continue linking the past with the present and honor those making a positive impact on the game of football. Light continually looks to promote this same attitude – especially in Greenville. He hosts a yearly football camp through his nonprofit, The Light Foundation, to assist the high school and community in shaping future football stars. He focuses a lot of his endeavors on giving back to his hometown.
Currently, Light is involved in a related initiative in Greenville – a member of the committee for the Friends of Harmon Field – which is raising money to rebuild the high school’s football field and adjacent facilities. Light said that Harmon Field is a landmark in the area that deserves a shining presence to match the school’s newly acquired NFL Golden Football.
“This project provides an opportunity for our city to showcase its pride through the high school and leave a legacy for the future generations who will use Harmon Field,” he said.
Light has even called upon his professional football contacts by bringing in his former coach’s help. The Bill Belichick Foundation, founded by Coach Belichick in 2013 to help provide student-athletes financial assistance and to fund schools and community organizations that provide youth with increased access to lacrosse and football, has awarded Friends of Harmon Field with a $10,000 grant. The Belichick Foundation’s donation is the first contribution toward the goal of $5 million – what it will take to completely upgrade, rebuild and modernize the current outdated facility.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help Matt in his efforts to not only maintain but grow the game of football in his hometown of Greenville, Ohio,” Belichick said. “He’s always been passionate about giving back to the community he lives in and is willing to roll up his sleeves to do it. The Belichick Foundation is very happy to support the Friends of Harmon Field.”
Light said he appreciates the opportunity to tie in the commemoration ceremony with his efforts to promote the game that has brought him so much.
“Greenville is a humble place where community shines and where the residents take great pride in their accomplishments,” he said. “I’m excited to share this NFL Golden Football with them as they continue to develop not only great football prospects — but great people.”
