The skies darkened and rain began to fall as students, parents and teachers from Myers Park Traditional Elementary School gathered on the athletic field for their annual fall picnic. While the rain showers soaked the grass it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants as they picnicked on hamburgers and chicken sandwiches and played a variety of games.

As the skies began to clear, the excitement around the school increased as several members of the Bobcats organization dropped by for a surprise visit. Bobcats rookies Alan Anderson and Antonio Meeking joined Sting Head Coach Muggsy Bogues, the Bobcats dance team and B.B. Sting at the school to address the crowd and make a very special announcement.

The cheers could be heard echoing through the grounds as the group announced that Myers Park Elementary School would be one of the partner schools of the Charlotte Bobcats and Charlotte Sting for the upcoming year.

�We are very excited about this partnership,� said Bogues. �We know it�s going to be good for everyone.�

As one of the Bobcats organization�s partner schools Myers Park Elementary will receive support from the team as they implement their academic goals. The partnership will focus on literacy, academic achievement, teacher appreciation and administrative support.

�I am so excited for this wonderful opportunity,� remarked Mrs. Johanson, the principal of Myers Park Elementary, when asked about the partnership. �They have a focus on literacy which is also one of our main focuses. This will give us the opportunity to work together and make sure that every child that enters our doors is successful.�

The 6-6 Anderson knows firsthand the importance of literacy. �Everybody�s not an athlete but everybody has their own talents,� he said. �Reading helps people achieve their goals.�

To help children reach their goals and be successful, the Bobcats have partnered with not only Myers Park Elementary School but three other schools in the Charlotte area including Reid Park Elementary School, Jay M. Robinson Middle School and E.E. Waddell High School. Each of these schools will receive various incentives to encourage students to achieve. These incentives may include game tickets, t-shirts, reading time outs, appearances by various member of the Bobcats organization, teacher recognition and in-arena game element participation when available.

These partnerships mark the second consecutive year the Bobcats organization has teamed with school in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district.

�It�s always important to come out and do things like this in the community,� remarked Meeking. �Kids are our future and we can help them better themselves.�

These sentiments were echoed by Bogues who explained, �It�s important for us to give back, to reach out and touch our youth and give them hope and inspiration. It�s important for them to hear a positive message from someone on the outside. Programs like these can impact kids a great deal. It gives kids the chance to see athletes doing positive things. When they see this, it has a tendency to rub off on the kids in a very positive way.�