Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation Announces Multi-Year Investment in Project GOAL Mini-Pitch Program for Pawtucket and Woonsocket
Long-term commitment will expand youth access to soccer as Rhode Island prepares for the World Cup Summer of Soccer
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (March 26,2026)— The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation today announced a significant, multi‑year investment in Project GOAL Inc., supporting the construction of two double mini‑pitch soccer courts in Pawtucket and Woonsocket. The investment reflects Centreville Bank’s continued growth in the Blackstone Valley and its long‑standing commitment to youth‑focused initiatives that strengthen the communities it serves.
Developed in partnership with Project GOAL and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the mini‑pitches will bring high‑quality, accessible playing spaces directly into neighborhood settings, creating opportunities for young people to play, train, and connect close to home. As part of the multi‑year commitment, Centreville Bank will be featured at the center of each court, reinforcing the Charitable Foundation’s long‑term presence and sustained investment in these communities.
Mini‑pitches are designed to reduce barriers to participation by offering safe, durable, and welcoming spaces for youth activity. Beyond the game itself, the courts will serve as gathering places that promote physical wellness, teamwork, and positive community engagement.
“This investment reflects how we think about our role as a community bank,” said Hal Horvat, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Centreville Bank. “In partnership with Project GOAL, we’re making a long‑term commitment to neighborhoods, to young people, and to places where opportunity can grow over time. These mini‑pitches will bring people together, and we’re proud to be part of something that will have lasting impact in Pawtucket and Woonsocket.”
The initiative connects to the growing national momentum around the FIFA World Cup, as the United States prepares for a World Cup Summer of Soccer. By investing locally in infrastructure that encourages participation and inclusion, Centreville Bank and Project GOAL are ensuring that the global excitement surrounding the sport translates into lasting community impact in Rhode Island.
"Centreville Bank’s generous support is a game changer for the youth of Pawtucket and Woonsocket,” said Darius Shizradi, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Project GOAL Inc. “By funding these mini-pitch futsal courts and the Project GOAL program, they are bridging the gap between the pitch and the classroom—ensuring our students have the tools to succeed academically and the spaces they need to thrive athletically. We are excited for Centreville Bank’s partnership and creation of a lasting impact and legacy during this incredible summer of soccer in the ocean state.”
Municipal leaders welcomed the investment and highlighted its significance for their cities.
“We are incredibly grateful to Centreville Bank for their continued investment in the City of Pawtucket and for helping make these new mini pitches a reality in partnership with Project GOAL,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien, City of Pawtucket. “As we look ahead to the excitement of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, this project reflects the very best of what community partnership can achieve, creating safe, accessible spaces where our young people can play, grow, and be inspired. Centreville Bank continues to set the standard as an exceptional corporate citizen, and we are proud to work alongside them and Project GOAL to strengthen opportunities for families across Pawtucket.”
“Woonsocket is proud to serve as a host community for this exciting investment in our youth and neighborhoods,” said Christopher Beauchamp, Mayor of Woonsocket. “Our partnership with the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation and Project GOAL reflects a shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people to stay active, build confidence, and connect through sport. As the momentum of the World Cup Summer of Soccer inspires communities across the country, initiatives like the mini pitch program—and the addition of a new double mini pitch court right here in Woonsocket—help ensure our youth are part of something bigger, right in their own backyard.”
Construction of the mini‑pitches is scheduled to take place over the next two months. An official opening‑day celebration and public reveal of the completed courts will be announced later this spring, bringing together community members, youth participants, and project partners to mark the launch of these new neighborhood assets.
About The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation
The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation was established as a nonprofit charitable organization in 2008 by the Board of Trustees to further the philanthropic mission of Centreville Bank. The Foundation strives to support local community-based organizations tackling the most significant challenges and helping to meet the needs of underserved populations throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. Grants are considered on a quarterly basis focusing on the following priority areas: education success, economic security, and capacity building. For more information, please visit www.centrevillebank.com/Community.
About Centreville Bank
Founded in 1828 and headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Centreville Bank is a full-service mutual bank with over $3.0 billion in assets and 25 locations throughout Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut. Centreville understands the unique financial needs of individuals, families and businesses and offers a wide range of personal banking and commercial banking products and services including checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, mortgages, business loans and more. Centreville is committed to its employees and the communities it serves, always striving to help people make progress and achieve their financial goals. That is progress on purpose. Visitcentrevillebank.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, or come into a branch or office to learn more.
About PROJECT, Goal, Inc: Project Goal is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides coeducational, academic responsibility tutoring and mentoring programs for students where they close the achievement gap through the reward of soccer. Project Goal serves as a leading organization in the "Soccer for Good" space to accelerate academic proficiency for students by facilitating up to 90 minutes two times a week of math and reading instruction and tutoring support followed by an additional 90 minutes of enriching experience on the soccer field where students build confidence, courage, and foster a deep sense of academic achievement and responsibility. The program fosters academic and social accountability and responsibility ultimately defining and producing compassionate and conscious community members.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
New England Patriots: Stacey James, Vice President of Communications
staceyj@patriots.com, (508) 326-6868
LISC Rhode Island: Izzy Cox, Program Assistant
icox@lisc.org, (401) 519-5834
APRIL 6, 2026 – Central Falls School District has been granted $250,000 by the New England Patriots through the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program for a new synthetic turf field at the Francis Corrigan Sports Complex in Central Falls, R.I.
The grant from the Patriots, the NFL Foundation, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is part of $3 million in field refurbishment awards allocated this year. The field will be used by Central Falls High School athletic teams and other district schools.
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program – a partnership between the NFL Foundation and LISC, the nation’s leading community development support organization – has supported the construction or renovation of 451 football fields nationwide since 1998. During that time, the NFL Foundation has granted over $65 million to revitalize playing fields in under-resourced neighborhoods. Fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project. To date 17 projects have been supported by the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program and the New England Patriots within the N.E. Patriots market.
“We’re proud to support the Central Falls School District with this $250,000 LISC grant to help build a new synthetic turf football field at the Francis Corrigan Sports Complex,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “The new field will serve as a safe, modern space for students of all ages to compete. Football games can bring communities together. Investments like this go beyond the game. They create opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and communal pride.”
LISC identifies local, nonprofit, community-based agencies that have an interest in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their communities. The agencies oversee the construction, maintenance and programming of the fields.
“These fields are among the building blocks LISC employs to support and strengthen communities throughout the country,” said Beverly Smith, VP LISC Sports & Youth Development. “For more than 25 years, our partnership with the NFL Foundation has resulted in new and improved facilities that are serving generations of neighborhood youth.”
"Through LISC's work with the Pawtucket Central Falls HEZ, we know that the Central Falls community values having outdoor recreation space that will build healthy opportunities for youth," said Jeanne Cola, Senior Executive Director at LISC Rhode Island. "We are proud to support the new football field near Central Falls High School. The field will provide a safe, high-quality space for young residents to be active and form strong relationships with their peers, which we know contributes to improved health outcomes."
About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $35.1 billion to create more than 530,000 affordable homes, develop 83.5 million square feet of commercial and community space, and help tens of thousands of people to find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.