Print
RSS 
Sign up for E-news
Ben Swanson
bobcats.com
July 8, 2011
Gallery: Freedom School Jubilee | Video: Freedom School Jubilee
On July 8, 2011, the Carolina Freedom Schools celebrated their movement to help get children excited about reading with their 2011 Jubilee at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Crown Ballroom with the help of Bobcats volunteers.
From the beginning of the day when about 1,800 kids jumped off their school buses up until lunch in the main ballroom, they were greeted with smiles and enthusiasm from Bobcats employees that volunteered to help direct the children.
But it was hard for the Bobcats volunteers to match the unbridled energy of the Freedom School participants throughout the day as they chanted their individual school's cheers and even brought mascots with them. After each school settled into the ballroom, they held a competition where schools performed routines to music and chants that emphasized the fun and benefits of reading.
"We do art projects, skits, rap – everything that we can do – cheers, chants, games that we can do to bring the book alive so the children will want to read more, thus making reading easier," Freedom School Director of Summer Programs Macie Alexander Bennight said.
Bobcats employees were overjoyed to be a part of a fun and entertaining morning promoting something so positive. They greeted kids coming off the bus, tried to participate in chants as well as they could and talked to the children while passing out lunches.
Bobcats Partnership Marketing Coordinator Kristen Harris particularly enjoyed seeing the children excited about education and looked to be having a blast herself as she danced with an eagle mascot and gave high-fives after on-stage performances from the kids.
"We are really excited to have partnered with the Bobcats, specifically with one of our sites," Bennight continued. "We are thrilled to have the Bobcats as a sponsor of the Seigle Point site to work as volunteers. Volunteers are tremendous in partnering with the scholars and interns in making the site richer for the children."
Seigle Point interns Janis Igbinazaka and Tasha Bowman were glad to have Bobcats volunteers on hand again, as they have been for much of the summer.
"Just last week we actually took a trip to ImaginOn and we had two wonderful Bobcats volunteers to just help out with the kids," said Igbinazaka. "So far, the presence of the Bobcats has been really great. The kids love them; they get excited and ask questions. We really love having the Bobcats here at Seigle Point."
"We’re looking forward to working with you guys some more: summer program, afterschool, throughout the school year," agreed Bowman. "We’re really looking forward to it."
