The Miami HEAT kicked off the 2014-15 school year in Miami-Dade County by welcoming back the students and teachers at Twin Lakes Elementary in Hialeah. HEAT players Shabazz Napier and Tyler Johnson along with HEAT staffers distributed school supplies and other gifts to the students entering the school. Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, and Miami-Dade County School Board Chair, Perla Tabares Hantman also attended the event. HEAT mascot Burnie and the Xtreme Team provided entertainment and the 2013 Larry O’Brien Championship trophy was on display.
“It is a privilege to once again work with the Miami HEAT,” said Carvalho. “Their athletes, coaches and support staff are a shining example to our students of perseverance, dedication and hard work. It is an honor to call the HEAT our partner in education.”
“I remember when I was younger coming into school, being nervous and everything, so anything you could do to kind of calm them down and put them at ease, is great.” said HEAT guard Tyler Johnson.
The HEAT selected Twin Lakes Elementary School because of its great academic accomplishments and the strong support it receives from the community and dedicated staff. Twin Lakes Elementary School is one of South Florida’s highest scoring Title I schools in Miami-Dade County, having scored an A-grade 14 consecutive years since its inception, along with 10 consecutive years with the top attendance rate amongst all of Miami-Dade elementary schools.
Savannah’s Soldiers, a National Letter Writing Campaign and non-profit dedicated to collecting and delivering letters of encouragement to the armed forces, has maintained a relationship with the HEAT for multiple seasons and was also in attendance to give the Twin Lakes students and staff a chance to write letters of their own and educate them on their mission.