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They made slam dunks and spun basketballs atop their finger, and those were just the students at City View Elementary School. Their world-famous guests, the Harlem Globetrotters, did a whole lot more. 
The City View students watched the legendary visitors show off their basketball skills. Members of the American exhibition basketball team also signed autographs and left the students with smiles as wide as the court. Students in 3-5 grade enjoyed lunch by visiting sponsor Jersey Mike’s Subs.
One of the awe-inspiring athletes was Maxwell “Hops” Pearce.
“I think my favorite trick to show the kids is probably the ball spin because it is an instant rush of joy and euphoria that kids get. I’ve spun the ball on kids’ fingers, who were frowning the whole time, and then as soon as they see the ball physically spinning on their own finger, then their mood completely changes. So, I think the spin has superpowers within, and that’s why it’s my favorite trick,” the Globetrotter said.
The impact of his visit on the students is not lost on the world-famous basketball player.
“I think the encouragement within the school environment is so important, especially when you factor in at this age, is when kids start dealing with bullying and other things of that nature, and it’s so easy to get discouraged,” he said. “In fact, I was a student when I was younger who was shy and constantly discouraged. So again, to have that full circle moment and get an opportunity to fix that problem, because I kind of understand what these kids are dealing with, and as we all do, all of the players here with the Globetrotters, we understand what these kids are dealing with, and we want to make sure that they feel encouraged, if not by their peers, in this very moment than at least by us, and their peers can get inspired to encourage each other too.”
One of Mr. Pearce’s teammates talked about the importance of encouraging students to keep trying.
“Today I went up, and I missed a dunk and almost fell on my neck, and everybody in the gym was telling me, ‘You can do it.’ I got back up, and I did it again. I made it. So, I think there’s no better way to set that example than in real-time and show them that even though they may look up to us as Globetrotters and we might seem perfect with the basketball, we’re not, and nobody’s perfect. That’s why it’s important to tell people that you can do it so that they can be persistent and try and try until they get it right.”
The visit from the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters spun up as a result of a school partnership. Over the past school year, HD Supply has supported students and staff at City Elementary School again and again through donations and their time. HD Supply chose City View as the focus for their “We Care for Schools” event, where 300 HD Supply leaders worked with their teams in an interactive and engaging service project for City View. The teams packed 60 teacher bags full of school supplies. They also provided over 900 City View students with necessary school supplies like notebooks, erasers, scissors, pencils, crayons, tissues, paper towels, colored pencils, and dozens more items. They provided classroom supplies to every classroom teacher, plus the school nurse and the art teacher. In addition to school supplies, HD Supply provided every kindergarten through 5th grade class with several pieces of new recess equipment like bubbles, chalk, basketballs, soccer balls, and footballs.
HD Supply did not stop there. In December, they donated a check to City View for $5,000.00 to support the school’s incentives and initiatives for students and staff.
During Read Across Cobb, more than 20 HD Supply staff volunteered to read to multiple classes.
Scarlet Pressley-Brown led HD Supply’s extensive support of City View students and staff. In recognition of her work, City View joined together with Jersey Mikes and the Globetrotters to present the Great Assist recognition to Ms. Pressley-Brown.
“Our new relationship with HD Supply has become an amazing partnership for City View. Our staff have benefited from the awesome resources. The donations for the teachers made a tremendous impact on the lives of students and staff. City View looks forward to a continued and long-lasting relationship with HD Supply,” said City View Assistant Principal Maxine Miller.
