November 19, 2015 – The Charlotte Hornets and Lowe's today announced the two organizations will award a total of $50,000 to six local groups as part of their educational grant program. The grant, now in its third year, aims to fund high-need projects at public schools and nonprofit education programs in the Charlotte area. The Barringer Academic Center, the Bethlehem Center of Charlotte, Citizen Schools, Heart Math Tutoring, Right Moves for Youth and Sugar Creek Charter School will be awarded the grants during halftime of the Hornets’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow at Time Warner Cable Arena.
“Each and every one of us has a responsibility to help our young people learn and grow,” said Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield. “Through this grant program, the Hornets and Lowe’s are glad to be able to support these six organizations by providing them the tools they need to do their parts to assist our community’s youth.”
The grants will go to the following projects:
Barringer Academic Center – $15,000 to provide early elementary school students playground equipment to use during outdoor recess time.
Bethlehem Center of Charlotte – $5,000 to provide educational opportunities for low-income children and families. Bethlehem Center will begin operating comprehensive Out of School Time education STEAM programs for families living in East Charlotte.
Citizen Schools – $5,000 towards programming that will engage students in real-world learning and help ensure children graduate high school ready to succeed in college and careers.
Heart Math Tutoring – $5,000 to enhance a volunteer tutor program that helps elementary students build a strong foundation in math and academics.
Right Moves for Youth – $10,000 to provide resources and guidance to help students graduate high school and plan for their future success.
Sugar Creek Charter School – $10,000 to provide middle school and high school students the opportunity to play sports during the school year.
“Lowe’s believes education plays a critical role in a thriving community,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s Director of Community Relations. “By partnering with the Charlotte Hornets, we are able to provide resources and funding for K-12 public education efforts and play a key role in the academic success of youth in our neighboring communities.”
This is the third set of grants awarded through this program, which launched in 2013. Previous recipients include 40 Book Project, 100 Black Men of Charlotte, the Allegro Foundation, the Arts & Science Council, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Freedom School Partners, JA BizTown, the UNC Charlotte Foundation, United Way of Central Carolinas and the YWCA of Central Carolinas.
Along with the grant program, the Hornets and Lowe’s have a history of partnering around education-related initiatives. In April 2013, the two organizations launched the Book Bus, a full-service literacy bus that travels throughout Charlotte year-round to encourage reading and distribute books to area youth. The renovated school bus helps increase opportunities for literacy and learning in underserved communities. In September 2014, they teamed up to paint and renovate the Marsh Road Boys & Girls Club.
In addition, the Hornets, Lowe’s and FOX Sports Southeast are partners in the Teacher Innovation Fund, which will award a total of $250,000 grants to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers from 2014-2016 to support the implementation of dynamic ideas to educate students. Through three cycles of Teacher Innovation Fund grants, the organizations have awarded $122,400 so far.