The College Park Skyhawks, the NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, announced the inaugural “Colli’s Classroom” program, where the team will adopt West Clayton Elementary School for the year and plan year-round programming and events for students, faculty, and staff.
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“Colli’s Classroom is about fostering a consistent relationship with a school in our community so that we can hopefully bring positive, tangible change over the course of the entire school year,” said Atlanta Hawks Vice President of NBA G League and 2K League Operations Janice Koon. “We want to support the mission of West Clayton Elementary and provide resources and programming that will enrich students, faculty, and staff.”
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The Skyhawks will plan at least two events per month at West Clayton Elementary, including basketball clinics, service projects, reading days, book fairs, holiday-themed events,
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and more. The goal is to impact the school’s 400 students and 60 staff members throughout the entire school year.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the College Park Skyhawks and the launch of the ‘Colli’s Classroom’ program at West Clayton Elementary. This collaboration is a celebration of community, involvement, and endless fun opportunities for our students. The Skyhawks’ passion for bringing people together and fostering a sense of unity resonates perfectly with our school’s values,” said West Clayton Elementary Assistant Principal Zakiyya Whittle. “We can’t wait to embark on this exciting journey, where our students will not only learn about teamwork and resilience but will also experience the thrill of being part of a vibrant, engaged community. Together with the Skyhawks, we aim to inspire our students to reach for the stars and create lasting memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.”
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The program tipped off this afternoon with a school supply donation in partnership with CareSource, a mission-driven Medicaid plan serving more than 450,000 Georgians. All 20 of the school’s classrooms were provided with school supplies – more than 4,000 items – from the Skyhawks and CareSource. Miles Norris, a rookie two-way player for the Atlanta Hawks, was joined by Colli Hawk, the Skyhawks mascot, and members of the Skyhawks business team. The CareSource mascot, Cuddles, was also in attendance to provide cheer for children.
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“CareSource is honored to have taken part in the ‘Colli’s Classroom’ program by providing resources and school supplies to West Clayton Elementary,” said Jason Bearden, CareSource Georgia President. “We are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on youth in our community and help ensure they are equipped with the materials they need to succeed.”
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In March 2023, the College Park Skyhawks hosted a reading day at West Clayton, which saw staff from the business and basketball operations show up and read to all 20 classrooms and discuss the importance of lifting literacy rates.
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To learn more about the Skyhawks’ community initiatives, including Colli’s Classroom, follow @CPSkyhawks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or visit cpskyhawks.com.
