Great football starts way before the pros. It begins in your community - on the local field.

More than 4,000 students, at 80+ high schools across Canada, received over $500,000 in funding to help offset funding cuts and rising costs of high school football programs. That’s what the Nissan Kickoff Project has accomplished in just four years.

Working closely with its CFL partners, Nissan created the program to help students learn and grow through football. The project assists high schools that have passion for the game, but are in need of resources to participate, and allows for area Nissan dealers and the CFL to be involved at a crucial local level.

Having such a strong partnership with the CFL means Nissan has the ability to encourage, motivate, and coach young athletes through player appearances and exciting events. This year, 23 Nissan dealerships and four CFL teams - the B.C. Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats – participated in varying degrees.

Steve Rhind, Nissan’s Director of Marketing, recognizes the importance football plays for not just a young athlete, but their community as well. “The Nissan Kickoff Project has made a significant difference in a number of Canadian communities, and we are proud to continue providing high school football teams with the support they require.”

“The entire experience with Nissan Canada was first class and our kids were lucky to be selected, as this is a memory that will last a lifetime.” Said coach Tyler Greenslade after Harry Ainlay High School’s visit from the Nissan Kickoff Project.

This Grey Cup Saturday, TSN will sit down with Steve Rhind and an Ottawa Nissan Kickoff Project recipient, Coach Jean-Sorphia Guillaume of St. Matthew’s high school, to discuss the Nissan Kickoff Project, the work it’s done and the work it will continue to do to ensure students get the leg up they deserve.