FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2026

Media Contact(s):

Robyn Lott, BREC, robyn.lott@brec.org

Ethan Bush, LECJF, ethan@thirtythreestrategies.com

LECJF and FMOL Health Announce

Community Health Partnership at the Inspiration Center

FMOL Health commits $500,000 to LECJF and will offer onsite community health navigation and healthy living resources to participants

LECJF and BREC Announce Parish-Wide Partnership with PAL of South Louisiana.

New Collaboration with the Police Athletic/Activities League of South Louisiana (PAL) Brings Accessible NFL FLAG Youth Flag Football League to entirety of East Baton Rouge Parish with BREC supporting the fields and facilities that make community league play possible

BREC and Law Enforcement Agencies Announce

Parish-Wide Partnership for Safer Parks and Facilities.

New collaboration strengthens coordination with law enforcement while BREC focuses on well-maintained, active, welcoming parks and facilities families can trust

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, La. – The Louisiana Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Foundation (LECJF), joined by BREC, FMOL Health, National PAL, NFL FLAG (operated by RCX Sports) to relaunch the Police Athletic League of South Louisiana (PAL) and bring accessible youth flag football league to all of East Baton Rouge Parish. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference at the Inspiration Center at Howell Park, where local leaders also shared updates on public safety, community health, and youth programming underway at the facility along with a vision for recreational youth sports going forward.

“Everything we do at the LECJF comes back to collaboration and partnership... Today is a perfect example of that—law enforcement, recreation, health care, and youth-serving organizations coming together at the Inspiration Center to invest in our kids and in the long-term safety of our community.” -Clay Young, chairman of the LECJF Board of Directors.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana, which leads summer and after-school programming at the Inspiration Center, shared a Summer IMPACT Report on the children and families served at the facility since it opened, which included 261 youth and partnerships with over 30 different organizations, along with new ways for families to get involved as the school year begins. EJ Kuiper, President and CEO of FMOL Health, also spoke about the health system's commitment to community health in historically underserved areas of North Baton Rouge and its partnership with LECJF to provide wrap-around health services onsite at the Inspiration Center.

FMOL Health announced a $500,000 financial and onsite services gift. The gift will help ensure high-quality programming remains accessible at the Inspiration Center and will fund a Community Health Worker for youth and families onsite.

“At FMOL Health, we believe health extends beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics and is shaped by the places where people live, learn, work and gather," -EJ Kuiper, President and CEO of FMOL Health

Our investment in the Inspiration Center reflects our commitment to building healthier, safer and stronger communities by supporting the children and families of North Baton Rouge with access, opportunity and hope.

The next IMPACT focused on youth recreation and a new partnership among LECJF, PAL of

South Louisiana, NFL FLAG, BREC, and local law enforcement. The effort is designed to help

communities strengthen and expand youth flag football while respecting the leagues,

organizations, coaches, and volunteers already serving families across East Baton Rouge Parish.

BREC will support that work by doing what a parish-wide park system is uniquely positioned to do: provide access to fields, gyms, and facilities and make sure those public assets are ready to support play. Local leagues will continue to be shaped and led at the community level, with BREC working alongside the respective cities and local partners to facilitate use of its facilities and improve the experience for the families who rely on them.

PAL of South Louisiana, with NFL FLAG, is bringing additional resources, experience, and

connections that can strengthen that local work. The intent is not to create a competing league structure or replace programs that are already successful. Where strong local leagues exist, the partnership can support them. Where communities identify gaps or want to expand opportunities, the partners can help bring additional resources to the table.

Dr. Stephen Coan, Executive Director of National PAL, voiced support for the partnership and the opportunity to use recreation as a way to connect young people, local organizations, and law enforcement through sustained, positive engagement. Additional PAL of South Louisiana programmatic opportunities to support youth in the parish will be announced in the coming weeks.

“BREC does not have to run every league to have an important role in whether recreational sports succeed,” -Dr. Brooks Williams, BREC Superintendent

“We own and maintain fields, gyms, parks, and facilities throughout this parish. Our responsibility is to take care of them, make them available, and be a dependable partner to the communities and organizations using them. We have work to do on that front, and we are committed to doing it better.”

Williams also announced a renewed public-safety partnership between BREC and law

enforcement agencies serving East Baton Rouge Parish. The collaboration will strengthen

communication, coordination, and response across jurisdictional lines while BREC continues its own work to improve the condition, operation, and daily oversight of parks and facilities.

“A family decides whether it trusts a park long before there is ever a reason to call law enforcement... They see whether the property is cared for. They notice whether the lights work, whether the grounds are maintained, whether the facility is active, and whether problems get addressed. Those are BREC responsibilities. Law enforcement is an important partner in keeping our parks safe, but our first obligation is to operate and maintain places people want to use and feel comfortable bringing their families.”

Williams said increased recreational activity is also part of creating safer public spaces. Practices, games, coaches, parents, volunteers, and young people bring positive activity into parks and strengthen the connection between a facility and the neighborhood around it.

“Recreation is prevention... The more families use these spaces, the stronger the sense of ownership becomes. When that activity is paired with positive relationships among young people, coaches, community leaders, and law enforcement, everybody benefits.”

Barry Stewart, commissioner of NFL FLAG, outlined details of the proposed launch. Registration will open in September, with a one-day kickoff jamboree at Memorial Park on December 5 to introduce players and families to the program. The inaugural season is expected to run seven weeks, beginning January 13 and continuing through early March, culminating in playoffs and a championship.

“NFL FLAG gives communities another tool to make football accessible to more young people,.. “Working with National PAL, LECJF, BREC, law enforcement, and local partners allow us to bring national resources to the table while supporting the people already doing the work in their communities.” -Barry Stewart (Commissioner NFL Flag South Louisiana)

The press conference closed with a public safety announcement from the Baton Rouge Police Department. Chief Thomas Morse introduced Saturn, BRPD's newest bomb-detection K-9, and thanked donors Charles and JoAnn Harvey for their generosity in supporting the addition. The introduction served as another example of the collaborative model championed by LECJF and echoed the park safety and security initiatives announced earlier in the program.

The LECJF mission is to implement sustainable solutions that promote public safety, uplift local law enforcement agencies, and build trust between the public and law enforcement.

BREC’s mission is to provide safe, high-quality parks, recreation facilities, and programming that enrich the lives of East Baton Rouge Parish residents. Through this partnership, BREC is

recommitting to the stewardship of the public spaces that make recreation possible and to being a dependable facility partner for communities and local organizations across the parish.

NFL FLAG's mission is to empower youth athletes and instill a lifelong passion for flag football through leagues that are engaging, fun, and accessible for everyone. With the support of the NFL, NFL FLAG provides a structured opportunity for kids to discover the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, and friendship, both on and off the field.

FMOL Health's mission is inspired by the vision of St. Francis of Assisi and the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to God's people, especially those most in need. FMOL Health calls forth all who serve in this health care ministry to share their gifts and talents to create a Spirit of Healing—with reverence and love for all of life, with joyfulness of spirit, and with humility and justice for all those entrusted to its care.

The Sheriff’s Office and municipal law enforcement agencies serving East Baton Rouge Parish are committed to protecting and serving their communities. Their partnership with BREC will strengthen communication and coordination around parks and facilities, support positive engagement with young people, and complement BREC’s work to create public spaces that are active, welcoming, and safe.

Visit LECJF.org, BREC.org, NATIONALPAL.org, NFLFLAG.com, or FMOLHS.org to learn more about the collaborative partners above. For all other inquiries, please contact the media contacts above.