3 RivCo High School Football Teams Rate New Uniforms, Helmets

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA —The Twenty-Nine Band of Mission Indians will donate 200 helmets and uniforms Friday to three high school football teams in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

"I am personally committed to safety first with sports for all of our students, including my own children," tribe chairman Darell Mike said in a statement. "We are donating the newest in football helmet technology, which are being used by the NFL and college teams. Our athletes deserve the same protection."

The NFL approved- and used-Riddell SpeedFlex helmets will be donated to football teams from the Coachella Valley, Desert Mirage and West Shores high schools, according to a statement from the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.

The presentation of the new equipment will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at CVUSD, 87-225 Church St., in Thermal and will feature tribal leadership and CVUSD's Superintendent Dr. luis R. Valentino, assistant superintendent, athletic directors and Director of Secondary Education Dr. Williams.

According to tribe officials, the gift represents the deep ties between the tribe and the school district.

"This is a tremendous gift to our over 200 students who comprise the teams of our three high schools," Valentino said in a statement. "The generosity of Chairman Darrell Mike and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is not only supportive of enhanced safety standards, but the empowerment also given with the presentation of new gear and uniforms makes for proud players and an enhanced sense of team and school spirit."