Metro Atlanta’s stint as host to Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 has brought the area a “host” of opportunities— from the Together We Rise Girls Flag Football Championship Summit in December to public art installations. Gwinnett students will be on both the giving and receiving ends of Super Kids-Super Sharing, a community service initiative sponsored by the National Football League, the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, Verizon, and Infinite Energy Center.
Super Kids-Super Sharing provides local students with an opportunity to be involved in the Super Bowl excitement by donating new and gently used items to help other children.
Participating donor schools and YMCA branches from around metro Atlanta have been conducting collections drives in recent weeks, gathering books, school supplies, sports equipment, and games to share locally with registered schools and organizations that work with children in need.
Representatives from each participating donor school brought donated items to a collection event on Jan. 17 at Infinite Energy Center’s Forum. Atlanta Falcons players, cheerleaders, and team mascot Freddie Falcon were on hand to greet and thank students, providing play activities after donated items were sorted. (The Collins Hill HS Chamber Choir kicked off the event with a performance.)
GCPS’ donating schools include Cooper ES, Craig ES, Creekland MS, Hopkins ES, McConnell MS, Mountain View HS, Mulberry ES, Parkview HS, Radloff MS, Suwanee ES, and Twin Rivers MS. Students from North Metro Academy of Performing Arts, Radloff MS, and Rockbridge ES will receive items collected through the initiative.
Super Kids-Super Sharing is one of several projects created by the NFL to respond to the environmental impact of Super Bowl events and to leave a positive, “green” legacy in the host communities. The program also promotes NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and wellness campaign, by sharing sports equipment among children in the community.