Monday, August 18, 2008

HOUSTON'S MADD HATTA HELPS 100 KIDS GET FLY FOR 1ST DAY BACK AT SCHOOL - TEAMS WITH JAMES POSEY'S BACK 2 SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

HOUSTON'S MADD HATTA HELPS 100 KIDS GET FLY FOR 1ST DAY BACK AT SCHOOL - TEAMS WITH JAMES POSEY'S BACK 2 SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Fact: The percentage of black men who have not graduated from high school has quadrupled over the past 60 years.

Fact: 60% of the black males who drop out of school will end up behind bars

Fact: Black males in the their early 30's are twice as likely to have prison records as bachelor's degrees

Fact: Only 3 out of 10 black males entering kindergarten will graduate from college

Houston, TX - Most of you will recall the night before the first day of school; laying out your new outfit and imagining all the compliments you would get when you saw all of your friends that day. While sitting in church a few Sundays ago, 97.9 The Box morning show host, Madd Hatta, heard his pastor tell his congregation that "children who did not have a new outfit on the first day of school, and were therefore not dressed for success, were far less likely to have a successful school year." That statement stuck in his head, along with the above statistics and he decided he wanted do something to help. Hatta called his good friends at local shopping mecca Suitmart and thus, Hatta's 100 was born.

Young males in Houston from grades 6 - 8 were encouraged to submit a 100 word essay on how they planned to 'keep it 100' in school and the winning 100 kids will be taken to Suitmart this coming Wednesday, August 20th where Hatta will buy them each a new outfit for their first day back in school. Additionally, upon hearing Hatta speak on the air about what he was doing for the kids, former Celtic, James Posey, who was already doing a back to school event as part of his Back 2 School Championship Weekend, invited Hatta's 100 to participate. Posey and 15 of his All Star buddies will be on hand at Grooves restaurant from 12PM - 3PM Saturday, August 23rd to meet with 500 kids, Hatta's 100 included, where they will receive not only some All Star Inspiration, but a backpack filled with school supplies.

"I heard what Hatta was trying to do for the kids and it occurred to me that kids who could not afford new clothes for the start of school were probably struggling with school supplies as well. I already had an event I was doing for 400 kids so we just added Hatta's 100 to that event." James Posey says.

"Often in life it's the small things that make a difference and it's up to each of us to find a way to be the catalyst for change. Because life is always about choices, I made the choice to help 100 male students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades start their school year off the right way......dressed for success." Hatta states, and adds......"I would like to thank both my friends at Suitmart, and James Posey for seeing my vision and helping me to make these things possible."

No comments: