USC Gamecock Basketball, Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands and PalmettoPride Team Up to Sink Litter
Columbia, SC – USC Mens’ Basketball, the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands and PalmettoPride are bringing anti-litter messages to Colonial Life Arena visitors during the Mens’ SEC games this year. Saturday, January 8, marks the first game of eight (8) where Boys & Girls Club members will attend games and help Arena fans throw their trash away.
In its third year, the Keeping the Colonial Life Arena Clean program coordinated by USC and PalmettoPride has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club to help the kids learn about keeping the environment clean and to inform the public on the importance of proper disposal of their trash.
“We thought it was a great opportunity to work with a local non-profit to not only bring help educate the kids, but to also be able to provide some entertainment to this great group,” said Linda Shadel, Director of Operations for PalmettoPride.
During one timeout in the second half of each game, a video board feature will remind fans about the initiative while members of the Boys & Girls Club walk through the stands with trash bags, encouraging Arena visitors to dispose of their trash responsibly. The Boys & Girls Club volunteers receive complimentary tickets to the game and a t-shirt, courtesy of PalmettoPride.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands is dedicated to improving our community and is excited to work with PalmettoPride in its mission to keep the Midlands beautiful,” BGCM Vice President of Communications and Resource Development, Ken Martin, said. “Community service opportunities like this are an excellent way to educate and encourage our members to take an active role in their community.”
Keeping the Colonial Life Arena Clean takes place at all Mens’ SEC home games and two womens games each basketball season. For more information on this program and PalmettoPride, please visit www.palmettopride.org.
PalmettoPride is 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating litter in South Carolina. Using a 4-pronged approach – Education, Enforcement, Awareness and Pickup – PalmettoPride has helped reduce litter by more than 50%. For more information, visit www.palmettopride.org.
With today’s uncertain economy, families are being faced with difficult choices as they try to find balance in their conflicting financial and personal demands. For this and many other reasons, an increasing number of children are being left at home with no adult care or supervision. In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands offers not only an affordable solution for families facing this problem, but so much more. All of our Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands are a safe place to learn, grow and BE GREAT – all while having fun. Great Futures Start Here. For more information, visit www.bgcmidlands.org .