The Greensboro Swarm announced today that it will partner with Bank of America, in conjunction with Guilford County Schools, for a Day of Service on Wednesday, September 5, to support Bluford/Peeler Elementary School. Volunteers from the Swarm, Charlotte Hornets and Bank of America will spend the day on health and wellness teachings, ‘Better Money Habits’ education and beautification projects on the elementary school campus.
Including Peeler Elementary, three GCS elementary schools will be closed for the 2018-19 school year after a EF-2 tornado struck Greensboro on April 15. The elementary school students were displaced for the end of the 2017-18 school year and will attend other schools for the upcoming year. Due to substantial damages to Peeler, those students will continue to attend Bluford, a STEM magnet school.
The day will start at 7:30 a.m. with volunteers greeting the students as they enter the school. At 8:00 a.m., volunteers will spend time in each classroom on the health and wellness initiatives and ‘Better Money Habits’ guidance. Each student will be given a drawstring bag filled with toiletries and supplies, donated by Swarm, Hornets and Bank of America employees, for the school year.
Later the volunteers will take on beautification projects, which include painting mural inside the school and maintenance on the school grounds. The day culminates at 11 a.m. when executive leadership from each organization will speak at a tree dedication at the school entrance.
Representatives from each organization include Steve Swetoha (Greensboro Swarm President), Seth Bennett (Charlotte Hornets Senior Vice President), Derek Ellington (Bank of America Triad Market President) and Dr. Sharon Contreras (Guild County Schools Superintendent).
In the aftermath of the tornado, the Swarm and Hornets made a $10,000 donation to the Guilford Country Schools Relief Fund, created by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, to support relief efforts. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation made a donation of $25,000 to the United Way of Greater Greensboro for tornado recovery efforts.
The Day of Service is an extension of the Hornets Sports and Entertainment and Bank of America relationship.