Grizzlies’ season kickoff and fundraiser set for Sept. 8, at Dominion Valley’s Market Square

The Gainesville-Haymarket Youth Football League’s (Grizzlies) season kickoff and fundraiser, will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, at Dominion Valley Market Square in Haymarket.

This event is being hosted by Toll Brothers and will include the Grizzlies Give Back 5K, 1K Family Fun Run, community street fair, children’s carnival, live entertainment and parade of teams.  The event will start at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.. All proceeds benefit the Grizzlies Give Back Campaign to improve and build youth sports fields in the community, according to a news release.

Event is open to the community with no entrance fee. Local business are encouraged to contact the Grizzlies to participate in the community street fair.  To participate in the Grizzlies Give Back 5K go to http://www.GrizzlyFootball.org.

More than 700 adults and youth ran in the Grizzlies Give Back 5K and raised $90,000+ to support the Grizzlies Give Back Campaign last year.

In 2011, organization opened the Grizzly Sports Complex, the first sports park in Western Prince William County with turf fields designated for multiple sports including football, lacrosse, field hockey and soccer.  This $2.5 million facility was made possible through a 35-year land lease agreement between Prince William County and the Grizzlies and is 100 percent funded through the proceeds generated by the Grizzlies Give Back Campaign, according to the news release.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be to JDRF.  JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research.  Members of the Grizzly Board of Directors voted to make JDRF a charity recipient this year because they saw so many players, parents and coaches support JDRF in 2011, the release said.  Since 2006, the Grizzlies Give Back Campaign has donated over $75,000 to youth focused charities.

According to the news release, the Grizzlies Give Back event is sponsored by generous companies in the area including: Toll Brothers, Dominion Valley Market Square, The Rappaport Companies, Merrifield Garden Center, Glory Days, Lion & Bull, PEVs Paintball, Glory Days, NOVEC, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Harvey Insurance, Imagine Design, Memory Makers, My Plumber, Sport & Health, Sports Authority, Bannerworx, C-Con, Charlie & Son, Chick-Fil-A, CoHo Automotive, Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry, GAINT, EmbroidMe, The Running Store and Curry’s Auto.

Gainesville Haymarket Youth Football League (GHYFL) “Grizzlies” organization began in 1999 and is a registered 501c3 organization.  The organization is dedicated to providing year-round athletic programs for boys and girls from the Gainesville, Haymarket, Bristow, Catharpin and Nokesville areas.

The Grizzlies are the largest youth football organization in Northern Virginia with a year-round program for more than 1000 players and cheerleaders, ages 6 to 16.  For full information on how to sign-up to participate in the 5k or community street fair, go to http://www.GrizzlyFootball.org or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)