Welcome Back Coach Beck & Summer/Fall Training Schedule

Dear Grant Football Families,

We’re excited to announce that Coach John Beck is returning as Head Football Coach at Grant High School!

Many of you may remember Coach Beck from his first stint leading the Generals, where he guided the team to an impressive 16-2 record in PIL play, earning four league titles—including two outright championships. He built a program rooted in discipline, hard work, and belief—and now he’s back to build on that foundation.

Coach Beck is more than a football coach. He’s a lifelong educator and multi-sport coach who’s worked with student-athletes in softball, track & field, and wrestling at schools including Hermiston, Barlow, North Medford, Crater, and Lakeridge. A proud Oregonian, he grew up in Woodburn and Molalla where he played football, baseball, and wrestled, and later went on to play football at Southern Oregon University.

He’s currently a teacher in Grant’s PE department, which means he’s already invested in our students’ growth both in the classroom and around campus. That daily connection gives him a unique ability to mentor our athletes year-round, not just during the season.

What stands out most is his understanding of what it means to be a General. Coach Beck knows the tradition and pride that comes with wearing blue and gray. He’s committed to working closely with families, alumni, and the broader community to help our players grow into leaders—on the field and beyond.

We’re incredibly lucky to have him back at the helm. Please join us in welcoming Coach Beck back to Grant Football!

Go Generals!

Upcoming Parent Meeting & Tentative Football Schedule

We are working to schedule a parent meeting soon to officially introduce Coach Beck and provide important information about the upcoming season. We’ll share the confirmed date and details as soon as they’re finalized. In the meantime, please review the tentative training and practice schedule below so you can plan accordingly:

June Spring Training:

  • June 2nd - 4th | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

  • June 16th - 18th | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Summer Pre-Season Training:

  • June 30th - July 2nd | 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.

  • July 7th - 10th | 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.

  • July 14th - 17th | 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.

  • July 21st - 24th | 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.

  • August 4th - 7th | 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Training Camp Practices:

  • August 11th - 15th | 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

  • August 18th - 22nd | 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

  • August 23rd | Team & Individual Pictures (Time TBA)

  • August 25th - 28th | 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

  • August 29th | Walk-thru Practice (Time TBA)

Normal In-Season Practice Schedule (Starting September 1st):

  • Mondays | 4:00 - 6:45 p.m.

  • Tuesdays - Thursdays | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Week 6 update

Hello Team Families,

We’ve made it to Week 6, and our teams are gearing up for another exciting round of games! Please see the schedule for this week's matchups:

  • Varsity Game:
    Date: Thursday, October 10th
    Opponent: Ida B. Wells
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: Marshall Campus (3905 SE 91st Ave, Portland, OR)

  • JV Game:
    Date: Wednesday, October 9th
    Opponent: Ida B. Wells

    Time: 4:00 PM
    Location: Ida B. Wells High School (1151 SW Vermont St, Portland, OR)

Let’s continue to show our support and cheer on our athletes as they advance in the season. Remember to bring your team spirit, and as always, go team!

We are thrilled to announce that Bryan Butcher Jr., President of Grant Youth Football, has been named Oregon's Teacher of the Year! This incredible achievement comes as no surprise to those of us who have had the privilege of seeing his dedication to students both on and off the field.

Mr. Butcher’s commitment to shaping young minds has always been evident, whether he’s coaching on game day or leading in the classroom. His positive influence and passion for teaching have inspired countless students, and it’s wonderful to see his impact now being recognized at the state level.

We are incredibly proud of Bryan and excited to celebrate this much-deserved honor with him. His leadership and dedication to our youth continue to make a lasting difference in our community.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Butcher on this outstanding achievement!

Go team, and go Mr. Butcher!

SENIOR PARENTS!!!!!

Confirming that senior night will be 11/1 this year. For senior night we need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/25

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    • His position, what he lives about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family names who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

Generals Weekly Update: Week 4 - Homecoming Excitement!

We're entering Week 4, and you know what that means—Homecoming Week is here! It’s time to rally behind our athletes as they face off against Jesuit High School in what promises to be a thrilling set of matchups.

Game Schedule:

  • Varsity: Friday, 9/27 @ Grant, Kickoff at 3:45 PM

  • JV: Thursday, 9/26 @ Jesuit, Kickoff at 4:15 PM

Let’s bring the energy! Mark your calendars, grab your Grant gear, and get ready to cheer our teams on to victory. Your support makes all the difference—let’s make it loud!

We’re still looking for a few more game day volunteers, so if you’re able to help, please sign up below and be part of the action!

Go Generals!

Volunteers Needed for This Week’s Bowl Game!

We need volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. We’re specifically looking for volunteers to manage the chains and help out at the concession stand. If you can assist, please sign up as soon as possible here.

Thank you for your continued support!

Week 3 update

Hey Grant Football Families,

We’re heading into Week 3, and it’s time to get ready for a great set of matchups against Lincoln High School!

  • Varsity Game: Friday, 9/20 @ Lincoln, Kickoff 7:00 PM

  • JV Game: Thursday, 9/19 @ Grant Bowl, Kickoff 4:00 PM

Let’s come together to support our teams and cheer them on to victory! Make sure to mark your calendars, wear your Grant gear, and show up with your game-day spirit.

Go Generals!

Volunteers Needed for This Week’s JV Bowl Game!

As we prepare for our first JV bowl game this week, we need volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. We’re specifically looking for volunteers to manage the chains on the field—this is a vital role that keeps the game moving.

If you can assist, please sign up as soon as possible here.

Thank you for your continued support!

SENIOR PARENTS

For senior night we will need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field. This is needed the week before senior night (senior night is usually our last Home Game which would be 11/1). I will be confirming the date in next weeks update.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/25

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    • His position, what he lives about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family names who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

Week two updates

Hello Football Families,

Welcome to Week 2 of the season! While last week’s game was a tough loss, we were thrilled to see how much growth there has been since practice started. The progress is undeniable, and we’re excited to keep building on it!

This week, both squads will face off against Hood River:

  • Varsity: Our first bowl game of the year is on Friday, 9/13 at 4 PM. Since it’s an early kickoff, we’ll be hosting a team lunch instead of dinner. Be sure to arrive early—we’re expecting a big crowd, and you won’t want to miss the excitement!

  • JV: The JV team will play on Thursday, 9/12 at 6 PM in Hood River. Dinner will be provided by Friends of Grant Football (FOGF).

Let’s make this a great week of football!

Urgent: Volunteers Needed for This Week’s Bowl Game!

As we prepare for our first bowl game of the season this Friday, 9/13 at 4 PM, we urgently need volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. We’re specifically looking for help with chains and concessions:

  • Chains: Volunteers are needed to manage the chains on the field—this is a vital role that keeps the game moving.

  • Concessions: We also need volunteers to staff the concession stand. We’re especially looking for someone with a food handler’s card who is willing to BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers. The BBQ will be fully set up and ready to go; we just need someone committed to grilling!

This is a fantastic opportunity to help raise funds for our program. The money we raise supports coaching stipends, team equipment, team dinners, and our camp stipends/beach retreat.

If you can assist, please sign up as soon as possible here. Your contribution is vital to making this event a success for our players and fans.

Thank you for your continued support!

Exciting News: Snap! Raise Fundraiser Has Begun!

This years Snap! Raise fundraiser has officially started! This is our biggest fundraiser of the season, and we need everyone’s help to make it a success.

Company Matching: Don’t Forget to Check!
Many employers offer matching gift programs, which can double the impact of your donation. Please take a moment to check with your employer about their matching gift policy. Friends of Grant Football is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so we qualify for most company matches. We should already be listed on popular match platforms like Benevity, making the process even easier.

By securing a company match, you’re not only supporting our football program but also maximizing the resources available to our players. Every dollar raised helps cover coaching stipends, team equipment, team dinners, and other essential needs throughout the season.

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation—let’s make this our most successful fundraiser yet!

Kickoff to the First Official Week of Football Season! 🏈

Dear Football Families,

I hope this message finds you well and excited for the start of our first official week of football season! Players have been working hard in practice, and now it’s time for the games to begin.

Here are the details for this week’s matchups:

  • Varsity: Our Varsity team will be playing under the lights this Friday at 7:00 PM in Oregon City (Pioneer Memorial Stadium). We’ll have a full team meal ahead of the game to make sure the players are fueled up and ready to go. It’s going to be an exciting night, so let’s get out there and show our support!

  • JV: Our JV team will be taking the field on Thursday at 4:30 PM in Oregon City (Pioneer Memorial Stadium). We’ll have snacks and water available before the game to keep the players energized and focused. It’s the first chance for many of our players to shine, and we’re looking forward to a great game. We know it is going to be hot and have a plan for ensuring players have access to water.

If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to reach out.

Let’s make this a great week to kick off the season!

Game day Volunteers

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer on game day! Your support makes a big difference. We still have a few spots open, particularly for chains and concessions, so if you haven’t yet, please consider signing up here.

For those who have reached out about helping with team dinners, I’m in the process of creating the schedule this week based on everyone’s responses. I appreciate your patience, and I’ll be in touch soon with more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

Details for Friday's Jamboree

Good evening everyone,

I wanted to share some details for this Friday’s Jamboree at Tualatin High School. The JV game will kick off at 2 PM, followed by the Varsity game at 6 PM.

In my previous email, I mentioned that food would be provided for both teams on game days. However, due to the timing of this event, the JV team will not be receiving meals this time. The Varsity team will have light snacks available, but not a full meal. There will be a concession stand on-site.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you all on Friday!

Welcome to the 2024/2025 Football Season!

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to welcome you to the 2024/2025 football season! We’re excited to have you as part of our team and look forward to a fantastic season ahead.

As we kick things off, we wanted to share a few important updates:

Volunteer Opportunities

We have a number of volunteer opportunities available, including roles for varsity and JV chains, announcing, scorekeeping, and working the concession stand at our two home bowl games, which will be hosted in the Grant High School Bowl. Your help is essential to making this season a success, and we greatly appreciate any time you can contribute.

You can find and sign up for all available volunteer positions by visiting our signup sheet here. If you have any questions please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com

Game Schedules

The varsity and JV game schedules are now available. We’re looking forward to some great matchups this season, and we hope to see everyone out there supporting our players.

VaRsity schedule

JV Schedule

Snap! Raise Campaign

We are launching our Snap! Raise fundraising campaign soon. This will be a key part of supporting our program.

The funds raised through Snap! Raise are vital to our program, helping us bring on additional coaches, purchase critical equipment, and provide meals for all athletes ahead of each game. Your participation in this campaign will directly impact the quality of our season and the experience we can offer our players.

Family Night and Youth Clinics

Greetings Grant Football Friends and Families! 

On May 2nd, 6-8 pm Grant Football will be hosting a Family Information Night for families whose children are interested in tackle football with a few goals in mind:

  • Provide safety education, enrollment, training details and expectations for fall tackle football for new and returning families

  • A Question and Answer with Coach Melson

  • Build community among all families before our busy season begins

Come mingle and, most importantly, bring a new or interested family with you to meet fellow parents and players and see what we are all about!

We hope to see you there. Please RSVP here:  Grant Youth Family Info Night

For all of you who signed up for the April Skills Clinics, thank you! We appreciate you! We have three more sessions happening in May, starting May 11th. Please join us! 

Youth Skills Camp Registration — Friends of Grant Football

Update from Coach Melson, important dates and youth updates

Grant Football Families

I hope this email finds you well. It's that time of the year again to start preparing for our 2024 season. Over the last couple of weeks the coaching staff has been working and planning to engage our student athletes for a positive football experience. It is important that every member of the Football family is on the same page and taking steps to contribute to another successful season. The calendar for the 24 season has been set and can be found at Friendsofgrantfootball.com/calendar Please be sure to view the calendar and make notes of important events. These opportunities will be the foundational building blocks for a team and the approaching season. 

One opportunity that has already started is “0 Period Training”. Starting last week we began our yearly 0 period training sessions. These sessions are before school and give our students athletes opportunities to train and prepare their body for the upcoming season. We have already completed four of the forty one sessions we will host before Spring Ball kicks off. Please encourage your student athlete to join these sessions at 6:45am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Grant weight room.


The Grant Bowl was recently reopened to welcome back Grant Athletes. We thank you for all the individuals that took the time to fight and advocate for this important resource to our community and school. The fight is not over yet. A few very important events are happening in the next two weeks:

1) PPS Facilities and Operations meeting this Wednesday 2/28 at 6pm. During this session they will be talking about the cost of the lights and will determine if it should go for board approval

2) PPS School Board meeting on 3/5. If the Facilities and Operations committee agrees to have the lights go for board approval, that approval will likely happen during the March board meeting.

Coach Melson

Youth Update

Grant Football would like to introduce its new president Bryan Butcher. Bryan is a 2008 Grant graduate who competed in Football and Baseball. Today Bryan is a Math teacher at Beaumont Middle school. Bryan is happy to return to the program and assist in supporting Grant Youth Football and its families. Be on the lookout for communications from him pertaining to youth events and upcoming seasons.

Information Night 5/2

Grant football information night will be May 2nd. Please join us to hear about the opportunities Grant Football provides for the student athletes in our community. There will be a meet and greet and a Q/A session for potential new and returning families. 

Where: Nohos

When: May 2

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Clinics

Youth Clinics are back! We are excited to announce that Grant Football will be hosting youth clinics in April and May. We will host two different sessions that each will include three sessions. These sessions give our youth the opportunity to build skills and confidence before the pads go on in August. They will get the opportunity to work with the High School staff and players while continuing to build relationships with teammates and coaches. It is also a good opportunity for current 8th graders to come and jumpstart their transition to highschool football. Registration will open on March 1st

Clinics dates are:

  • April 13 20 27

  • May 11 18 25

We are excited to get the ball rolling for the 24 season. It will be another opportunity for our student athletes to grow and forge relationships that can last a lifetime. As always please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about the upcoming events and season. Continue to encourage your athletes and push them to follow our three core rules and values.

Register Here

  1. Be Accountable

  2. Do Everything To the Best of Your Ability 

  3. L.E.A.D

January Board Meeting 1/10

Friends of Grant Football is gearing up for another exciting year supporting our beloved Grant Generals Football program. We invite you to the upcoming board meeting:

Date: 1/10

Time: 6PM-7:30PM

Location: Nohos 4627 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213

We are currently seeking volunteers to take on the crucial roles of Treasurer, Secretary and voting members within the board. Having active family participation is vital in shaping the success of Friends of Grant Football. Together, we can make a significant impact on the Grant High School Football program!

If you have a commitment to our football community and are interested in contributing your skills, please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball or join us at this months board meeting to learn more.

Go Generals!! 🏈

Post Season Update

Grant Football Families, 

We are excited to be back at school and getting the kids back into the building! We know getting kids back into their daily routines and engagement is critical. Returning to school may be hard for some after the unexpected break, but It is very important that players are checking in with teachers and refocusing to finish the term strong.

Due to the timing of the strike we have had to postpone the regular end of the year process. Now that we are back it is crucial that we "put the season to bed" as soon as possible. This means we need to start the process of gear check in and locker room clean up. This also includes holding an end of the season meeting. During the meeting players will get more information about gear and locker room check in. We will also have the end of the season voting for team recognitions and awards (food provided). This meeting will take place on Wednesday 11/29 during lunch in the south forum. The end of the season banquet will also take place on December 9th in the upper commons (more information below).

I have also sent out this information to all of the student athletes through our team communication platform.

Go Generals!

Coach Melson

Coaches Thank You Gift and Coach Melson’s Baby Gift

As the football season comes to a close, it's time to express our gratitude to the amazing coaches who have dedicated their time and effort to our players' growth. We're organizing a collective effort to give them a token of appreciation. Please consider donating towards the coaches' end-of-season gifts. Your generosity will help us show our heartfelt thanks for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

As many of you know Coach Melson and his wife will be having their first child in January. A few people have asked about his registry. His registry can be found here. Friends of Grant Football is also sending a gift from the team that we are accepting contributions for.

To contribute to the coaches gifts or coach melons team baby shower gift, send a Venmo to Stephanie-antipov-kennedy or text Stephanie at 503-871-7501 to cooridnate dropping off your donation. Every little bit counts, and together we can make this a memorable gesture for our coaches.

Key Reminders

Team Meeting - Wednesday 11/29 (Food provided)
Gear Check in - Friday 12/1
Team Banquet - Saturday 12/9

Please support your student athlete in making sure they are prepared to turn in all their gear. Gear that is not turned in will be charged to your student account. Students with outstanding balances may be restricted to attend school events including graduation. 



Week 9/18 update

Can you believe we are already at week 4! Lots of growth happening and we are excited to see such big improvements each week.

This weeks games

JV Monday 9/18 4pm @ Marshall vs Ida B Wells

Vasity Thursday 9/21 7pm @ Marshall vs McDaniel

WE NEED HELP WITH volunteers for the GAMEs

JV parents this is a call to action we need your help! Below are the volunteer spots we need for the games on 9/18. Without volunteers the games cannot happen, so we need parents to signup. Since the games are no longer at Grant it is much harder to have students help out like last year.

9/18

  • 4 volunteers needed for chains

  • 1 score board volunteer

Varsity Games Thank you to everyone who has signed up to volunteer. Most varsity volunteer spots have been filled except below.

9/29

  • 1 volunteer needed for chains

  • 1 volunteer needed for announcing

10/6

  • 1 volunteer needed for chains

  • 1 volunteer needed for announcing


We have yard signs available for pickup.

All football families are welcome to stop by 4032 NE 32nd Ave and grab a yard sign to show support for fixing the grant bowl! The signs are on the front porch.

SENIOR PARENTS

For senior night we will need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field. This is needed the week before senior night 10/20.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/20

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    •  His position, what he loves about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family members who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

  3. A picture of your player that will be hung up during the senior night game. Families will be able to take these with you after the game.

  4. Your player’s favorite restaurant (we will be adding gift cards into their gift baskets)

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

Scheduling error regarding JV Southridge game

We hope everyone is off to a great season! We are writing to apologize for a scheduling error that occurred last night with the JV game against Southridge. Due to a last minute change in the schedule, there was a miscommunication, and we incorrectly informed you that the game would be held next week. The JV Southridge game took place last night, and we understand the inconvenience and disappointment this may have caused.

We deeply regret any confusion or inconvenience this error may have caused you and your athlete. We understand the importance of a clear communication and reliability in our information, and we take full responsibility for this oversight. While there are no excuses this season has been exceptionally hard with scheduling due to the bowl closing. We are building the plane while flying it at times and that can be extremely challenging.

To address the issue, we are taking steps to ensure better communication between all parties involved with scheduling and communications. We will make every effort to ensure parents have as much notice as possible when schedules change. Given the fluidity of our situation with the field and scheduling, we also encourage you to check the OSAA website weekly as updates may be posted there before we are able to get communications out. You can find the Grant schedules here: https://www.osaa.org/teams/52809#tabs-V.

We value your trust and support in the program. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Week of 9/4

We are excited for our first home game this week! Varsity plays 9/8 against SouthRidge 7pm @ Marshall. A meal will be provided before the team leaves Grant. The next JV game is next Monday 9/11.

Hot off the presses — the Grant Bowl Community Coalition has big news!

The Portland Public School Board will vote on new Board Resolution 6755 — to Fix the Field, Build the Bowl — at the school board meeting this Tues., Sept. 5th. Sponsored by Directors Julia Brim-Edwards and Andrew Scott, the resolution supports the immediate and long-term goals of the Grant Bowl Community Coalition.

What’s in the resolution?

  1. The resolution directs the superintendent to identify financial and other resources to replace the Grant Bowl turf and Buckman track (also closed by Parks and unusable for Benson students with no plans to fix it).

  2. The resolution directs the superintendent to work with Parks to secure a contractor to repair and/or replace the Grant Bowl turf immediately this Fall (not Fall 2024 as previous communicated by Parks in a press release).

  3. The resolution calls on the city to expedite the permitting process for said repairs/replacement.

  4. The resolution calls on the city to provide a long-term lease for both the Grant Bowl and Benson Track to PPS so the district can implement further improvements (we have requested that the lights and seating outlined in the Grant Bowl Master Plan be planned for and implemented).

We need your immediate support in two (2) ways:

  1. We need four (4) board member votes at the meeting in order for the resolution to pass. That means we must show visible support for the resolution by packing the the Board Meeting at 6PM sharp (Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center at 501 N. Dixon St.) Parents, students and community members — show up in your Grant gear, bring signs and/or wear blue. Whatever you can do to show your school and/or community spirit works!

  2. Email your support to PPS at publiccomment@pps.net (no later than Noon on Tues., Sept. 5 if possible). Be sure to reference the Grant Bowl and Board Resolution 6755 (also attached) in your subject line. Let’s flood those inboxes!

Thanks for your support — your response to our initial survey was submitted to PPS and the City of Portland — this board resolution is a direct result of your actions. So, let’s Go Generals and get out the vote!

Special Thanks to the volunteers this week

Chains

Geno Zaharie

Julia Causey

Gregg Hale

Jim Deibele

Announcing

Adam Kennedy

Score board

Kevin Rueda

SENIOR PARENTS

For senior night we will need you to start getting a few things sent in.  We would like parents or Guardians to send us a letter that can be read by the announcer when your player is on the field. This is needed the week before senior night (senior night is usually our last Home Game which would be 10/27). I will be confirming the date in next weeks update.

Things we need from Parents

  1. Please prepare a 20-30 second  letter by 10/22

  2. Tell us who your player is, 

    • How long he has been playing football.

    •  His position, what he lives about the game etc.

    • Name of Parents/Guardians and family names who may be on field with player for Senior night.  

  3. A picture of your player that will be hung up during the senior night game. Families will be able to take these with you after the game.

  4. Your players favorite restaurant (we will be adding gift cards into their gift baskets)

Parents and family will go on field to be presented and honored before the game. This is a really fun night to celebrate our Seniors and the families that support them.

ADVICE ON HOW TO CLEAN WHITE UNIFORMS

  • Always air dry, never put uniforms in dryer or stains will set.

  • Do a cold water soak if there are stains for 30 min. Hot water will also set the stains.

  • Scrub with a tooth brush (or soft bristle brush) and use Blue Dawn dish soap (4xs cleaning power) might need multiple scrubbing. 

  • Rinse by hand as well as possible and then run through regular washing machine cycle with powdered detergent (works better than liquids or pods) and powdered oxiclean.

September Update

Hi Generals

Last weeks Jamboree was a great warm up to the season! All Varsity and JV home games will be @ Marshall this season. We wanted to thank everyone for all the support shown as we figure out how to best advocate for a solution to fix the Grant bowl (update below).

This week both the JV and Varsity game is against Newberg, in Newberg. Thursday JV will play @ 4pm and Friday Varsity will play @ 7pm. Traffic can be hairy so plan accordingly.

We recommend bringing cash for the gate. Not sure of the exact cost to get in, but it should not be more than $10 per adult or $5 for students.   

Meals & snacks will be provided for both teams this week. JV will have a snack before their game and a meal after the game. Varsity will have a meal before they leave Grant and a snack for the bus ride home.

If you are interested in donating to support the cost of game day meals please do so soon at https://www.friendsofgrantfootball.com/give and add “for food” in notes of the donation. 

Snap! Raise & Fundraising

This seasons SnapRaise campaign started this week. Our hope is this campaign is the only fundraiser where we need student athletes participation. The goal is to generate enough funds to cover our costs for the entire season. These costs include: coaching stipends, food, team activities, tutoring and much more. Please share the below QR code with family and friends who might be interested in donating!

Don’t forget about employer matches

Many companies will match donations that employees make to non-profit organizations. We recently had a family that works at Nike donate. Their $500 donation ended up being almost $2k! Many companies use Benevity and we are an available organization through that site. If your company uses Benevity please donate directly through the Benevity site and not snap! Raise. Reach out to Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com if you need a receipt or any other documentation from Friends of Grant Football.

Volunteers

All interested volunteers can sign-up for shifts here. After you sign up please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball so she can coordinate training.

Game day

We need the below volunteer help for all games. It is so much fun to be a part of the Game!

Volunteer spots needed:

Varsity: Chains (all games still open), Score board (one game left) & Announcing (3 games still open)

JV: Chains (all games still open) & Score board (all games still open)

Moda Center Parking lot fundraiser volunteers

One of Grant Football’s main fundraisers is managing a parking lot for Moda Center event parking. The Youth and High School Friends of Grant Football Board members have been running the lot this entire year, but we now need additional volunteers. Each volunteer shift is 1.5-2hrs & all volunteers will have training. This fundraiser brought in over $20K last season and we desperately need help to keep it going!

Volunteer spots needed:

All Moda Center events (at least 2 volunteers per event)

Grant Bowl

Once again thank you to all the families who have e-mailed city officials, done interviews with the news stations and advocated for getting the Grant Bowl fixed.

We do not have any updates as this time, but if you want to stay updated on whats happening join Grant Bowl Community Coalition on Facebook. Also, if you have not already done so please:

  1. Complete this survey from the newly-formed Grant Bowl Community Coalition. The goal of sharing this survey is to explore ways to expedite immediate repairs after a "critical safety test failure" that includes advocating for the transfer of ownership + operations of the Grant Bowl to PPS.

  2. Email the following public leader: Commissioner Ryan, Parks Director Long and our city council demanding that they do better for our students and community. To demonstrate the depth of our support, we urge you to send an e-mail to the City of Portland expressing your concerns about condemning the field and the impact it will have on students. A template email has been prepared to make this process easier for you (here). Feel free to personalize the email with your own thoughts and experiences.

Urgent Action Required: It is time to rally together to save the Grant Bowl

Dear Football Parents and Community Supporters

As valued members of our football community, we are reaching out to you with an urgent request for your support. Our beloved Grant Bowl has been condemned by the city which is going to deprive our students of a vital space for sports and community connection. By not allowing Grant athletes to use the field at all, a larger group of teams than in the past will require that student athletes miss class to be bussed to other fields to practice and play games - which will negatively impact our students, our entire community and the environment.

We believe that together, as a united force, we can make a difference and ensure that our students continue to have access to the field. To achieve this, Friends of Grant Football is asking for your help in two crucial ways:

  1. Complete this survey from the newly-formed Grant Bowl Community Coalition. The goal of sharing this survey is to explore ways to expedite immediate repairs after a "critical safety test failure" that includes advocating for the transfer of ownership + operations of the Grant Bowl to PPS.

  2. Email the following public leader: Commissioner Ryan, Parks Director Long and our city council demanding that they do better for our students and community. To demonstrate the depth of our support, we urge you to send an e-mail to the City of Portland expressing your concerns about condemning the field and the impact it will have on students. A template email has been prepared to make this process easier for you (here). Feel free to personalize the email with your own thoughts and experiences.

Time is of the essence, as city officials are currently deliberating on this issue. We encourage you to take action as soon as possible and share this message with fellow parents, friends, and community members who share our commitment to preserving this valuable resource for our students.

Let’s show the city the strength of this football community and rally together to protect the field our students deserve to have access to. Please e-mail admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com if you have any questions. If you are looking for regular updates on this situation, join the Grant Bowl Community Coalition FaceBook group to be kept up to date on what's happening.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Antipov

Friends of Grant Football President

Fall Camp Update

Grant Football Families 

This week there will be some adjustments to football practice due to the extreme weather we are anticipating this week. Practices from Monday - Thursday will be held at 11:30am on the upper turf. This will move our pre practice meeting to 10:30 am. Players who need to check out gear can do so starting at 8:00 am. Please note the attire for the practices is as follows 

Monday - Helmet + Practice Jersey 

Tuesday - Helmet + Practice Jersey 

Wednesday - Helmet + Shoulder pads + Girdle + Practice Jersey 

Thursday - Helmet + Shoulder pads + Girdle + Practice Jersey 

Attire may be adjusted to accommodate for heat. 

Practice will resume on its normal schedule this Friday unless communicated otherwise.


Reminder: You must be cleared via family ID to receive gear. If you do not have approved status on Family ID you will not receive gear until you are cleared. Athletes must also register on WarRoom. This is our platform where students will check out their gear. Players who have not created an account can do so using the following link. 

https://secure.prepwarroom.com/Access/Control

Gear check out start at 8:00am in the wrestling room. 

August Updates

Message from Coach Melson

Grant Football Families

Just like that we are in the month of August. We have spent the last eight weeks of summer preparing for our 2023 football campaign. Summer has been highlighted by different events including Team Camp, Beach Retreat (pictures below), U of O 7v7 / Lineman camp and most recently our first Beach Retreat. These various events have been great opportunities for the team to grow closer, bond, and identify team goals. During our retreat we wanted to lay a foundation using the 7 C’s. If you are not familiar with the 7 C’s they include; Culture, Contagious, Consistent, Communicate, Connect, Commit, and Care. This is a framework we can use to win in the locker room as well as on and off the field. It is important that we continue to reinforce these concepts at school, on the field and in the home. How well we master the 7 C’s will be a key indicator of our experience and success this year. 

Although the summer months are coming to a close, we still have many opportunities to become better individually and collectively. Team conditioning will resume next week with weight room and field work. Our last conditioning session will be Thursday 8/10. 

Things Coming Up:

Parent Meeting on Thursday : This is an informational meeting for the 2023 season. It is highly encouraged that a representative of each player/family is in attendance. We will cover registration, schedule, safety, participant expectations and other topics pertinent to the season.

When/what time: 8/10 at 6:00 pm

Where: Grant High School South Forum (You can access the building via the front doors. The south forum is to the left on the south end of the building.) 


Fall camp (Mandatory Practice): All participants must be cleared prior to practice on the 14th. You can check your registration status on Family id. 

Player Clearance

  • If a student has APPROVED under the approval status column, they have a current physical on file and are cleared to start sports on August 14th.

  • If a student has NOT APPROVED under this column, they need an updated physical and are NOT cleared to start sports on August 14th   

  • If a student has a DASH (-), they have registered and we have not checked their physical yet and their status is pending until we check.

When/time: 8/14-8/25 Monday-Friday 3p Team meeting/4pm fall camp

* If your athlete has not checked out gear they should arrive at 1pm the first day to do gear checkout


Camas Jamboree: Camp will end with a Jamboree. The Varsity and Lower Level Jamboree will happen on the same day this year.

When/What: 8/25 JV: 5pm Varsity: 6:30pm

Where: Doc Harris Stadium

Volunteers Needed

Below are a few volunteers opportunities we have this season. If you are interested in helping out please e-mail Stephanie at admin@friendsofgrantfootball.com.

Game day

We need the below volunteer help for all games. It is so much fun to be a part of the Game!

Volunteer spots needed:

Varsity: Chains X4

JV: Chains X4 & Score board X1

Moda Center Parking lot fundraiser volunteers

One of Grant Football’s main fundraisers is managing a parking lot for Moda Center event parking. The Youth and High School Friends of Grant Football Board members have been running the lot this entire year, but we now need additional volunteers. Each volunteer shift is 1.5-2hrs & all volunteers will have training. This fundraiser brought in over $20K last season and we desperately need help to keep it going!

Volunteer spots needed:

All Moda Center events (at least 2 volunteers per event)

Friends of Grant Football Board Position

The Friends of Grant football board meets once a month. We currently have the two below board positions available.

  • Treasurer X1

  • Event Coordinator X1

Fundraisers

Team Snacks and Dinners

To support players and ensure they have the essential nutrition they need before games Friends of Grant Football provides team meals before every game (both home and away). We do this for both JV and Varsity. The size of the meals depends on the length of time players have between school and game time, but we strive to ensure every athlete has some nutrition before game time. For anyone wanting to contribute to the cost of those meals please scan the below barcode and donate through our PayPal account. All donations are tax deductible.

Snapraise fundraiser is starting in August!

We are making preparations for the season and have partnered with SnapRaise to be our fundraising platform. At this time, our hope is that this campaign will be highly successful and the only fundraiser where we need our student athletes participation. Our goal is that this campaign will generate enough funds to cover our costs for the entire season. In late August players will be learning more about this fundraiser.