Carolina Panthers invest in local communities
The Panthers donated $1,000 to maintaining the butterfly garden moving forward
The Carolina Panthers have begun a new community service initiative in several communities throughout North and South Carolina. Their “Keep Pounding Day” was introduced in Winston-Salem at Quarry Park on Wednesday, May 1.
Keep Pounding Day is a community beautification effort that the team brought to 25 communities in the Carolinas as a tribute to the team’s 25th season. The goal for the day was to perform service projects in the areas of beautification, education and hunger relief, as well as youth health and wellness, according to a team-released statement.
Pre-selected local children, along with Panthers’ staff and volunteers from the City of Winston-Salem, built butterfly gardens in Quarry Park. The gardens will help the city qualify for a wildlife certification that will assist children in learning more about nature. The team also donated $1,000 for maintaining the garden moving forward.
“The Carolina Panthers are excited to announce the organization’s Keep Pounding Day of community service,” said Panthers owner David Tepper in a statement. “We are looking forward to a day of service for our region’s communities as a sincere thank you for the amazing support we receive from Panthers fans across North and South Carolina. May 1st was selected for the inaugural effort because the number 51 was the jersey of former Panthers’ player and coach Sam Mills.”
Several members from the Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department were heavily involved with putting the event together. William Royston, director of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department, says he was “ecstatic” to have a new partnership with the Carolina Panthers.
“I think it goes a long way showing how we can work with outside organizations to make positive things happen in our neighborhoods and our communities,” said Royston. “It goes without saying, but to get our youth involved in something outdoors and away from their TV screens and phones, doing something good for the environment is great.
“A lot of the ecology here at the quarry has developed naturally over time. I think that it’s the perfect site to create an area for pollinators, because we could not live without them. It’s a win-win situation where the insects can come live and grow and we are doing our part to better sustain our environment.”
Emerald Bowman, senior special projects manager for the Recreation and Parks department, said the Panthers provided the funding for all of the plants, shovels and t-shirts for the children. She stated it was an honor to have the Panther organization choose Winston-Salem as one of their locations.
Winston-Salem City Council Member and Chronicle Publisher, James Taylor Jr., gave a quick speech prior to the event starting. He thanked the community and volunteers for their efforts at the quarry. He also thanked the Panthers organization for their commitment to community service in the city.
