Budget cuts in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system threatened middle school athletics, leaving around 1,900 student-athletes without a team to play on. Initially, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools considered eliminating all middle-school sports; however, they later decided that they would be able to allocate enough funding to support football, volleyball and cheerleading in the fall; boys' and girls' basketball and cheerleading in the winter; and boys' and girls' track in the spring for the 2011-12 academic school-year.
So, what about soccer? Golf? Baseball and softball? All were eliminated. Until yesterday.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School announced yesterday that a $250,000 sponsorship deal with Hendrick Automotive Group, along with a gift from an unidentified donor, would provide enough funding for a full slate of 13 sports to be offered at all 32 middle schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System.
Hendrick Automotive Group chairman Rick Hendrick, owner of one of NASCAR's most prominent racing teams, Hendrick Motorsports, based out of Charlotte, NC and founder of Hendrick Automotive Group, assured parents and student-athletes that despite being an official sponsor of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the team uniforms won't be clad in Hendrick Automotive Group logos.
"This doesn't mean student-athletes' uniforms will look like NASCAR cars," Hendrick said. "There won't be decals on those uniforms…It will be more like having a sign at the field-something like that."
One of the main reasons why Hendrick and Hendrick Automotive Group decided to make this generous contribution is because athletics can provide students with tools that can give them success later in life-be it athletic prowess or just learning how to work with others.
"It builds teamwork, respect for opponents and respect for leadership," Hendrick explained. "As someone who participated in sports growing up and has kids who played, I understand the impact those experiences can have on young people.
Performance Porsche, located in Chapel Hill, NC, is a proud member of Hendrick Automotive Group.
So, what about soccer? Golf? Baseball and softball? All were eliminated. Until yesterday.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School announced yesterday that a $250,000 sponsorship deal with Hendrick Automotive Group, along with a gift from an unidentified donor, would provide enough funding for a full slate of 13 sports to be offered at all 32 middle schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System.
Hendrick Automotive Group chairman Rick Hendrick, owner of one of NASCAR's most prominent racing teams, Hendrick Motorsports, based out of Charlotte, NC and founder of Hendrick Automotive Group, assured parents and student-athletes that despite being an official sponsor of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the team uniforms won't be clad in Hendrick Automotive Group logos.
"This doesn't mean student-athletes' uniforms will look like NASCAR cars," Hendrick said. "There won't be decals on those uniforms…It will be more like having a sign at the field-something like that."
One of the main reasons why Hendrick and Hendrick Automotive Group decided to make this generous contribution is because athletics can provide students with tools that can give them success later in life-be it athletic prowess or just learning how to work with others.
"It builds teamwork, respect for opponents and respect for leadership," Hendrick explained. "As someone who participated in sports growing up and has kids who played, I understand the impact those experiences can have on young people.
Performance Porsche, located in Chapel Hill, NC, is a proud member of Hendrick Automotive Group.