American Heart Association and NFL Award Grants to 188 Schools to Boost Student Health and Emergency Readiness

The American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL) have announced the second round of grants for 2026, awarding $350,000 to 188 schools in 45 states through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs. The funding, provided by the NFL through its NFL PLAY 60 initiative, aims to improve student health and well-being, with a focus on physical activity, cardiac emergency readiness, and inclusive education.

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 1 in 5 children in the United States live with obesity, and the same proportion achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The grants are designed to address these disparities by providing schools with resources that might otherwise be unattainable. "Educators know what their students need to thrive, and this grant program is designed to help them get there by providing schools with health-focused and cardiac emergency readiness resources," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "We are grateful to the NFL’s support in helping to ensure that children everywhere have equal opportunities to live longer, healthier lives."

NFL PLAY 60 grants support specific areas such as physical activity equipment, flag football, recess enhancements, inclusive physical education, and well-being resources. The initiative encourages children to get at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day, aligning with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. NFL mascots in the NFL PLAY 60 Ambassador Class, including Freddie Falcon, Gumbo, Rampage, Roary, Rowdy, Sir Purr, and T-Rac, are also working to inspire kids to move more for mental and physical well-being.

In conjunction with the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Association and NFL are attempting to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most people to complete CPR training in one hour. The event, supported by Damar Hamlin’s Chasing M’s foundation and Doctor Mike, will take place on April 24 from 1-2 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium. Participation is free, and registration is open at heart.org/NFLDraft. This effort aims to encourage fans and communities to join the Nation of Lifesavers by learning Hands-Only CPR.

Grant applications are accepted year-round, with another round of recipients to be announced in June. More information on NFL PLAY 60 resources and grant opportunities can be found at heart.org/NFLPLAY60. The American Heart Association, supported by over 35 million volunteers, continues to fund research and advocate for public health, while NFL PLAY 60, now in its nearly 20th year, empowers millions of youth to get active for at least 60 minutes daily.