13 Jun 2011
Mavericks Are "World-Class" In Support of Dallas ISD Students
DALLAS-The Dallas Independent School District joins the long list of organizations congratulating the Dallas Mavericks for winning the NBA championship.
The Mavericks have been strong supporters of Dallas ISD schools as shown by their efforts during the last few years.
Among other things, the Mavericks:
• contributed to a school library and media center makeover at J.W. Ray Elementary School. Five Mavericks players attended an event just last week, as did Head Coach Rick Carlisle and NBA Commissioner David Stern.
• partnered with BBVA Compass to refurbish T.J. Rusk Middle School through a program called Team. Works. In Schools. The school received fresh paint and landscaping both indoors and outdoors, new reading nooks in the library, as well as renovated athletic facilities.
• supported Vaccines for Teens, an NBA Cares program emphasizing the importance of vaccinations for middle and high school students. Mavs player Shawn Marion visited Sam Tasby Middle School in March to talk about the importance of making healthy choices throughout your life.
• established the Mavs Reading Challenge to encourage students across the city to read. The winning school, Edward Titche Elementary in Pleasant Grove, received a visit this school year from Mavs player Shawn Marion, former Maverick Rolando Blackmon and Mavs Man.
• supported a Mavs Scholarship for high school seniors, along with the Jason Terry Foundation and Century 21 Mike Bowman Inc. Three Dallas ISD seniors were recipients during the program's first year.
• encouraged students in Dallas ISD to recycle through the Into the Bin, Out of the Box recycling contest. Mavericks guard Jason Kidd, Mavericks Dancers and team mascot "Champ" attended an event at Maynard H. Jackson Middle School this past November along with officials from Waste Management, USA Today and the school district.
• helped build a new playground at David G. Burnet Elementary School last spring.
"The Dallas Mavericks are a world-class organization from the top to the bottom," said Interim Superintendent Alan King. "They have taken the time to support our students in a number of ways and we want them to know that their efforts off the court are appreciated every bit as much as what they accomplished this season on the court."