Some youngsters received a special treat from a former NFL player who had an important message for the students of a Grays Ferry school Friday.
First-grader Zyere Rodgers receives a high-five for his outstanding academics from former football player Barrett Brooks, who gave bookbags to the top students at James Alcorn Elementary Friday (Photo Courtesy of William Andrews).
Noriel Martinez, of 28th and Mifflin streets, did not expect his name to be called.
"My heart was pumping fast," the James Alcorn Elementary School seventh-grader said.
The 12-year-old was one of 50 students from the school at 3200 Dickinson St. to receive a backpack filled with goodies from Tackling Together, a Cherry Hill, N.J.-based nonprofit.
"I'm going to do all my work and try not to get in trouble," he said in hopes of being chosen again next year.
Barrett Brooks, a former Philadelphia Eagle, visited Friday afternoon with 50 bags packed with school supplies he doled out to the top students of each grade.
Tackling Together cofounders Brooks and wife Sonji wanted to give back to Sonji's former neighborhood of 27th and Wharton streets and the school her brother and sister -- Renaldo and Carmen Cristobal -- attended, so they contacted Grays Ferry's Alcorn Elementary two weeks earlier and Principal Yvette Jackson accepted their gifts with open arms.
"What time and how many bookbags?," she said she asked when approached with the idea.
Not only were some students' academic performance rewarded, but Brooks' educational message fit right in with what the school is aiming to instill in its students, Jackson said.
"The students need to do better than their best," she said.
Brooks visited five classrooms for grades one through three before meeting with remaining grades four through eight in the auditorium. With funds raised through his nonprofit, Brooks presented the best of each grade with a black bag jammed with scissors, crayons, glue, pencils and a ruler, as well as an autographed photo and a mini football.
With all the excitement, Brooks set the bar high for all 542 pupils when he vowed to return next year.
"We're starting a drive," he said. "Whoever gets good grades in this school will get a present from me."
Even those, such as seventh-grader Saiah Randolph, who were chosen this time around promised to improve.
"I'm going to try to get all A's," the 13-year-old from 26th and Dickinson streets, who received a bookbag from Brooks, said.
"What do I look like?," Brooks, a 6-foot-5, 350-pound former offensive tackle, asked a first-grade class.
Most students immediately pinned him as a football player.
"I block for the quarterback," the 37-year-old responded. "I make him look good."
Students asked Brooks what it takes to make the Eagles to has he beaten the Cowboys and, even as questions typically turned to his pro career and students gawked his Super Bowl ring, he kept his message at the forefront.
Article:
Fels falls on rough times
Article:
Robbery goes awry
Article:
Recyclebank grant aims to beautify Southern
Article:
Headlong Dance Theater seeks citizen dancers
Article:
Super-sudsy Sunday
Article:
Leukemia swab event and more
Article:
Neighborhood gatherings
Article:
Wounded in Point Breeze
