Hornets, SportSouth join forces for annual 'Swarm to Serve' day of service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Executives and employees of Fox Sports Carolinas/SportSouth and the Charlotte Hornets joined forces for the fifth year of their annual "Swarm to Serve" day of service on Monday.
This year, along with the help of Bank of America employees, more than 200 volunteers from Fox Sports Carolinas/SportSouth and the Hornets banded together to help on three separate projects benefiting military personnel in Charlotte. There was refurbishment done at the Veteran Resource Center on the campus of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in the heart of the city, as well as the completion of home repairs for a Vietnam veteran. They also helped put together 3,000 care kits for homeless veterans and veterans in need.
But it didn't just stop there.
The Hornets and FOX Sports Carolinas/SportSouth came together to make a very significant donation to CPCC's Veterans Employment Fund. It will allow veterans the opportunity to help get paid co-ops, while at the same time working toward their degree.
The total sum of this year's donation was $200,000.
"In the five years since I've owned the team, one of the things I've wanted to focus on was reaching out to the community," Hornets team president Michael Jordan said. "We take great pride in being able to give back. ... We want to show we're committed."
Jordan added that there are three aspects of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation -- education, hunger and wellness -- and that helping the military is now the fourth pillar. All told, the Hornets and SportSouth have donated approximately $1.2 million since 2010.
The list of dignitaries on hand to help out was long and impressive.
Besides Jordan, two of the bigger names there representing the Hornets were president and COO Fred Whitfield and team general manager Rich Cho.
Jeff Genthner, senior vice president and general manager at Fox Sports South and longtime supporter of the "Swarm to Serve" initiative, was once again on hand. Genthner was joined on stage during the presentation ceremony by CPCC president Dr. Tony Zeiss, U.S. Army general Jefforey Smith, and Bank of America regional vice president Charles Bowman.
"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," Genthner said. "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."
