Posted by By Indria Hollingsworth - Dallas South News Contributor
More than 600 elementary school children and nearly 2,000 business and civic leaders gathered at Cowboys Stadium on Monday to kickoff “SLANT 45” a joint effort between the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and Big Thought’s Service-Learning Initiative. SLANT 45‘s (Service Learning Adventures in North Texas) goal is to have some 20,000 North Texas school children log at least 45,000 combined service-learning hours. It is one of the most comprehensive youth-education programs in Super Bowl history and one of the largest community-wide service-learning initiatives ever in the U.S.
SLANT 45 was introduced with fanfare that included a speech by the program’s Honorary Co-Chairs Former President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, appearances by Dallas Cowboys legends and a performance by multi-platinum pop sensation and SLANT 45 supporter Jordin Sparks.
The room cheered as President Bush shared the importance of giving back and being a part of community, while encouraging students to treat their neighbor as they would want to be treated.
Wendy Hawthorne, Principal of Adele Turner Elementary in Oak Cliff, felt today’s event was historic in the lives of North Texas school children. “The students will learn the importance of giving back to the community,” she said. Hawthorne was pleased that students from Turner, a TEA Exemplary campus, were able to attend.
When asked how the community could get involved in this worthwhile endeavor, GiGi Antoni, Big Thought President & CEO responded, “the community can help by sponsoring children to participate; churches, schools, businesses, sororities and fraternities, are needed as volunteers to mentor the children and to supervise their service-learning activities.”
Jordin Sparks
Even with such Cowboys legends as Rayfield Wright, Cliff Harris, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith in attendance, the highlight of Monday’s gathering was a surprise performance by American-Idol winner, Jordin Sparks. The students clapped, dance, and sang along with Sparks as she performed her #1 hits, No Air and Battlefield.
Super Bowl XLV will be here in 15 months, but even after all the hoopla has died down and the last play has been run, the seeds planted today with SLANT 45 will remain. The program looks to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of these students and others in our communities for many years to come.
To learn more about SLANT 45, including how to become involved, go to www.slant45.org
Photos by Dallas South Contributor Byron K. Watters of 3D Sports Visuals
Edited by Shawn Williams
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[...] in a second concert at Winspear Opera House on May 22. But organizers are also excited about Slant 45, a joint project between the Host Committee and Big Thought, whose goal is to have some 20,000 [...]