Trout Creek athletes receive equipment grant

Student-athletes at Trout Creek School will gain a competitive edge thanks to a 2019 Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant from California Casualty. The school is one of 64 public middle schools and high schools in 32 states awarded a total of $67,149 to help purchase new equipment, improve player safety, and provide uniforms.

Trout Creek School received $1,000 that will go towards purchasing much needed equipment for the track and field team: a discus, shot put and javelin. The funds will also help replace an electric ball pump that was stolen from the school.

Coach Cody Linderman is thankful, saying the grant will make a big difference for his team.

"Trout Creek School does not have any funding for athletics. All the money that we get for athletics is through grants and donations, so receiving the Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant has given us an opportunity to purchase new athletic equipment," he said.

Since its inception in 2011, more than $738,000 has been awarded to some 630 schools across the nation.

The grant is named for California Casualty Chairman Emeritus Tom Brown, an avid sportsman who has observed that lessons learned on athletic fields – teamwork, confidence and sportsmanship – translate to the classroom and beyond.

"The Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants benefit students and communities, and California Casualty is proud to support that effort," said Lisa Almeida, Assistant Vice President.

Serving educators since 1951, California Casualty has other giving initiatives to help schools that include a $7,500 School Lounge Makeover, http://www.schoolloungemakeover.com; $250 Music and Arts Grants, http://www.calcasmusicartsgrant.com, and $200 Help Your Classroom grants, http://www.calcas.com/help-your-classroom.

Founded in 1914, California Casualty provides the National Education Association Auto and Home Insurance Program for Montana Education Association members. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit http://www.calcas.com/NEA or call (866) 531-2605.