Georgia Force and Georgia Public Policy Foundation Team-Up for Kids
May 23, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
ATLANTA (May 23, 2002) - When the Georgia Force takes on the Los Angeles Avengers Friday night at Philips Arena, nearly three-thousand Atlanta area school children and their families will be in the stands cheering them on as a reward for academic achievement. Atlanta's Arena Football team and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation are teaming-up to reward the students of schools designated by the Foundation as No Excuses Schools.
"These children deserve recognition for their academic achievements," said Foundation President Rogers Wade. "We appreciate the commitment the Georgia Force has made to Atlanta and these children. I believe it will be an exciting event for the children and their families."
The tickets are being made available through Kids Force, a ticket donation program administered for the Force by United Way. The community outreach program focuses on children who, under normal circumstances, might not otherwise have the financial means to go to a professional sporting event. Children learn a new life lesson at every game. The life lesson for Friday' s game stresses the importance of reading over the summer. The program is made possible by Bank of America, Georgia Power, and AT&T Broadband.
"Kids Force and No Excuses Schools are a perfect fit," says Jim Thomas, President of the Georgia Force. "The Kids Force program encourages children to make the right choices in life. It is our hope that the Arena Football entertainment experience will work as an incentive to encourage them to continue to work hard, and maybe even gain a dedicated fan along the way."
Thirteen Atlanta area schools, as well as eleven others throughout the state, were recognized at a May 6, 2002 press conference at Bethune Elementary School:
Beecher Hills Elementary Atlanta City Schools
Bethune Elementary Atlanta City Schools
Cascade Elementary Atlanta City Schools
John Wesley Dobbs School Atlanta City Schools
West Manor Elementary Atlanta City Schools
M A Jones Elementary Atlanta City Schools
Capitol View Elementary Atlanta City Schools
F L Stanton Elementary Atlanta City Schools
Peyton Forest Elementary Atlanta City Schools
Inman Middle School Atlanta City Schools
Oakhurst at 5th Avenue Elementary Decatur City Schools
Glen Haven Elementary Decatur City Schools
Nancy Creek Elementary DeKalb County Schools
Despite having above average poverty rates, every one of the No Excuses Schools posted academic achievements. These schools beat the odds by providing strong leadership, setting high expectations for students and focusing on continuous student improvement.
The Foundation is a public policy think tank and compiled the list of No Excuses Schools using statistics in its interactive 2002 Report Card for Parents, which was released last month. The Report Card, available free of charge at www.gppf.org, features an interactive database containing an enormous amount of statistical data about Georgia's public schools. Parents can query and research the report card to help them make informed assessments about the quality of public education in Georgia.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 23, 2002
- Three Games on Tap for Opening Night - Portland Forest Dragons
- Carolina Cobras to be Featured on HDNet Broadcast - Carolina Cobras
- Week Six Injury Report - AFL I
- Georgia Force and Georgia Public Policy Foundation Team-Up for Kids - Georgia Force
- HDNet to Televise AFL Games - AFL I
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
