Bobcats Help Build Playground, Read To Students At Thomasboro Elementary

Charlotte Bobcats players Malik Allen, Primoz Brezec, Melvin Ely, Brevin Knight, Bernard Robinson, Kareem Rush, Theron Smith and Gerald Wallace and Tangela Smith of the Charlotte Sting joined Charlotte Business Strengthening America to help build a playground for the students at Thomasboro Elementary School on Thursday, April 14.

Thomasboro did not have a playground for its children and the new playground was designed by the kids themselves at a special session at the school on February 1. Thomasboro Elementary School is a cornerstone for its fragile West Charlotte neighborhood. For families and children in the area, the school is the center of everything that's good and changing in the neighborhood.

At the end of the day, the children had a brand new, safe playground and Charlotte businesses had once again shown their spirit and willingness to volunteer people and resources to the community.

"It was fun," said Bobcats point guard Brevin Knight. "We had a chance to help kids cement tiles for the playground. I told the girl I was working with that she did a better job than I ever could have done. It was beautiful. I had a good time. Whenever we do these things it’s great because the kids get to reach out and touch us and see that we’re normal people. It’s a great feeling to just be able to meet the kids and see their excitement. Doing things like this is something I take pride in."

It was the third playground build for Charlotte's Business Strengthening America Chapter. The group built a playground at Progress Park in West Charlotte in April 2003 and at Idlewild Elementary School in March 2004.

"This was great," said Gerald Wallace. " It was good to come out and support this project and get involved in the community. It feels great to bring a smile to the kid’s faces. It was special to come out and meet the kids today."

A second group of Bobcats players, including Corey Alexander, Keith Bogans, Matt Carroll, Jason Hart, Jason Kapono Emeka Okafor and Tamar Slay, joined members of the Bobcats Dance Team after the playground build for a Reading Timeout with the kids in the Thomasboro after-school program, Bobcats mascot Rufus was also on hand for all the fun.

"Anytime you can come out and give back to the community and interact with kids, it’s always fun," said Melvin Ely. "It’s a blessing to be able to do things like this."