Athletes at Centennial High School(Gresham), Gervais Middle School and Henley Middle School (Klamath Falls) will benefit from the 2018 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program. They are among 79 public middle schools and high schools in 32 states awarded a total of $83,000 to aid sports programs affected by tight budgets.

The Oregon schools each received $1,000.

The grant will allow Centennial High to buy new uniforms for the wrestling team to accommodate the increased participation in the sport, including girls. Gervais Middle School will purchase warm ups for the track and field team and a canopy to protect the athletes from adverse weather. Henley Middle School will provide new balls and other equipment for the boys and girls basketball teams.

The grant is named for California Casualty Chairman Emeritus Tom Brown, an avid sportsman who believes that teamwork, confidence and sportsmanship help develop high achievers in academics and in life. Since its inception in 2011, more than $660,000 has been awarded to some 600 schools across the nation.

COSA has been a proud partner of California Casualty for many years now. This year we continue our work together at the 44^th Annual COSA Conference in Seaside where California Casualty will be exhibiting.

“All students should have the opportunity to compete,” said Lisa Almeida, Assistant Vice President. “California Casualty’s 67 year commitment to educators and schools also reaches to athletic fields.”

Public middle and high schools in the Beaver State with an unmet need for a sports program can try for next year; applications for the 2018/2019 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants are now being taken at www.calcasathleticsgrant.com. The deadline for consideration is January 15, 2019.