Jets launch EmpowHER fundraiser to support girls flag football with exclusive prizes

The New York Jets have kicked off a new community and youth football initiative, EmpowHER, using the team’s preseason platform to expand opportunities in girls flag football while giving supporters a chance to win exclusive New York Jets experiences and autographed memorabilia, according to the Jets’ official announcement on August 14, 2026.

EmpowHER is structured as a donation-and-entry promotion tied to girls flag football growth. Fans who participate can support the program and, as described by the Jets, enter for prizes that include experiences connected to the organization, along with Jets autographed items. The campaign is positioned as both a fundraising effort and a way to bring more girls and families into the sport’s flag-football ecosystem.

The Jets framed the initiative as part of a broader preseason push, connecting the timing of the campaign to the team’s continued presence in the community during the months when NFL fan attention is at its highest before games begin. The team’s announcement also referenced longtime Jets leadership in tying the effort to the Johnson family legacy, naming Woody Johnson as part of the inspiration behind the program.

For girls flag football, the importance of incremental funding tends to show up in the basics: access to equipment, support for local programming, and the ability for youth leagues to keep fields and training sessions stocked throughout a season. Flag football has become one of the more visible entry points for young athletes because it lowers barriers to participation compared with traditional tackle pathways, and EmpowHER’s focus aligns with that development model.

As an NFL brand activation, the campaign also highlights how clubs can use the preseason routine, not only Sundays in the fall, to reinforce the franchise’s identity. The Jets’ announcement, for instance, emphasized the fan experience component, with prize categories that extend beyond a simple donation thank-you, turning support into a chance to step closer to the team through exclusive access and memorabilia.

The promotional details that matter for supporters are the campaign’s dual purpose and its simplicity: donate to support girls flag football and receive an entry opportunity for Jets experiences and autographed prizes. The Jets did not describe any on-field consequences for the team through this effort, and the campaign should be viewed primarily as a youth sports investment and outreach program rather than a competitive football storyline.

With the campaign now launched during the preseason window, the next thing to watch is how the Jets and their partners distribute the funds and publicize the youth-program impact over time. In addition, supporters may look for updates on prize fulfillment and any related activations tied to Jets community programming as the season approaches.