CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets will "Swarm to Serve" as the entire organization, along with broadcast partner FOX Sports Carolinas and SportSouth and Bank of America, participates in its annual all-staff Day of Service on Monday, June 22. This year, the Hornets Day of Service will focus on projects benefiting military personnel in Charlotte.
The Hornets Day of Service will tip off at 9:30 a.m. with a press conference in front of active and veteran military members at Central Piedmont Community College. Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan will be in attendance to officially announce the addition of a fourth pillar, military, to the Charlotte Hornets Foundation. Military support will join the foundation's three current pillars: education, hunger and wellness.
The Hornets and SportSouth will also be making a major donation to CPCC's Veterans Employment Fund. The grant has been earmarked for a co-op fund that will allow veterans the opportunity to pursue paid internships with companies throughout Charlotte while working toward their degree. These internships will provide veterans a chance to gain invaluable real world experience in a civilian field, while also earning an hourly wage to help support themselves and their families. The Hornets will also commit to extending an internship to a veteran applicant to tip off the program.
Bank of America's participation in the Hornets Day of Service continues its support of programming for military veterans at CPCC. In September 2014, Bank of America helped launch the Bank of America Veteran Leadership Program, a mentoring initiative, and helped fund programming at CPCC's Bank of America Center for Military Families and Veterans.
Following the tipoff event at CPCC, Hornets, SportSouth and Bank of America employees will participate in several volunteer projects in Charlotte benefitting military personnel. These projects will include working with Rebuilding Together and Purple Heart Homes to complete home repairs for John Drakeford, a deserving Vietnam veteran; partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to pack 3,000 care kits – containing food essentials – for homeless veterans and veterans in need; and refurbishing The Veteran Resource Center at CPCC's central campus with the help of Rodgers Builders. The volunteer activities will run from approximately 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., depending on the project.
"As an organization, we are excited to participate in our annual Hornets Day of Service in Charlotte," said Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield. "It is great to once again have such tremendous support from our partners at SportSouth and to be joined this year by Bank of America. We are thrilled to cement our commitment to the military by establishing it as the fourth pillar of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation and by making a donation to CPCC's Veterans Employment Fund. This will allow us to take our assistance to military personnel in the Carolinas to the next level, and our entire organization is looking forward to participating in several community projects that will benefit military veterans and their families."
"It is a privilege for FOX Sports and SportSouth to partner with Bank of America, CPCC and the Charlotte Hornets to honor and create educational advancement opportunities for our military men and women," said Jeff Genthner, Senior Vice President and General Manager. "Our partnership with the Hornets extends far beyond the basketball court, and through our continued participation in the Hornets Day of Service efforts we can express our gratitude and appreciation for our hometown military personnel and their families."
"Honoring and acknowledging our military's service starts with ensuring that they have the tools and resources available to further their education, including access to career development opportunities," said Charles Bowman, North Carolina and Charlotte president for Bank of America. "The Charlotte Hornets commitment to joining CPCC and Bank of America to help service members and veterans at the school will certainly add some excitement, as well as further the center's mission of serving the educational needs of students transitioning from their service to their professional careers."
"Helping veterans make a successful transition from military to civilian life is a top priority for CPCC," said Dr. Tony Zeiss, CPCC President. "The Charlotte Hornets and SportSouth share a similar passion for assisting our military veterans. We thank the Hornets and SportSouth for their generous support and for shining a spotlight on CPCC's veteran students and the college's effort to ensure the future success of our veterans."
