SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS - (March 22, 2006) - Today, Mavs guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse took Carroll Elementary School first-grader Carlee Miller, 6, to school in an American Limos & Transportation limousine, and upon arrival held a “New Look of School Milk” assembly for the student body. During the assembly Jerry read Carlee's winning essay and talked to the students about the importance of eating healthy, exercising and drinking milk. After his talk, he answered questions and then met with Carlee's first-grade class.

Carlee Miller won the opportunity to take Jerry Stackhouse to school by entering the Dairy MAX “Take Jerry Stackhouse to School” contest that was held in conjunction with The Dallas Morning News. To enter, students ages 6-12 were asked to write an essay about how they get their 3-A-Day™ of dairy on game day and why they love the Mavs.

The dairy industry currently promotes three daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt through its 3-A-Day® of Dairy campaign in conjunction with the newest Dietary Guidelines and as the easiest way to fight what it terms a national “calcium crisis.” In the case of teenagers and the elderly, four servings are considered the target.

“Kids choose milk more often at school when it’s served cold, in flavors they love and in cool, new plastic bottles,” states Teresa Wagner, program director with Dairy MAX, the regional promotion organization funded by dairy farmers. “Not only do dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt provide large portions of the calcium needed for stronger bones, studies show that when children drink milk at lunch, they have higher intakes of other important nutrients, such as vitamins A and D, zinc and potassium.”

“Health, nutrition, and the prevention of diabetes in both adults and children is a cause very near and dear to my heart,” said Mavs guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse. “Having experienced the disease so personally, I realized partnering with Dairy MAX on this promotion was an excellent way to teach children the importance of eating healthy, exercising, drinking milk, and just taking care of their young bodies. So often we forget to tell children early, and taking Carlee to school and speaking to her classmates will be a thrill for me and hopefully a health lesson they will remember into their adulthood.”

Carlee’s winning essay:
I love chocolate milk and milkshakes, so the basketball plays I can make.
I love nachos, cereal and macaroni with lots of cheese.
Every day at school I drink milk and say please.
I love to watch the Mavs so I can learn how to score.
At my practices, I am learning more and more.
I love the ManiAACs and all their dances. They are so fun.
I think the Mavericks are number one.

Jerry and Carlee arrived at school in a limo provided by American Limos & Transportation. NBAE

Upon arrival, Carlee and Jerry talked to media. Moses Olmos/NBAE

Carlee's classmates were so excited to see Jerry and Mavs mascot Champ who also made an appearance. Moses Olmos/NBAE

Jerry talked to the students about the importance of eating healthy, exercising and drinking milk. He also read Carlee's winning essay to the school. Moses Olmos/NBAE

After the assembly, Jerry spent some time and signed autographs for Carlee's first grade class. Moses Olmos/NBAE