Alabama Players Help Newest Action Team School Hit the Ground “Running And Dancing”

This past weekend, Major Leaguers and Action Team Captains in Alabama joined forces in support of two local community projects, when players Wesley Wright and Austin Adams  and teen Captains  from New Hope Academy to provide holiday cheer for senior citizens and volunteer support for a 5 Reindeer Fun Run in Prattville.

The activities kicked-off on Friday when 16 Action Team Captains from New Hope Academy and free agent pitcher Wright teamed up to lend a hand at the holiday luncheon and dance at the Gillespie Senior Center. Located across the street from the Academy, the event hosted more than 200 senior citizens from the Prattville area. Captains teamed up with Wright and volunteers from nearby church groups to serve lunch to the seniors. After lunch, everyone convened on the dance floor to celebrate with holiday music.

On Saturday, New Hope Academy Action Team Captains and The Noah Foundation hosted its first-ever 5K  Reindeer Fun Run through downtown Prattville.  Before the race, the 30 participants, comprised of  New Hope Academy students, parents, faculty and administrators,  participated in a costume competition. The entire group came together to walk and run for The Noah Foundation, a non-profit that helps raise supplemental funds for New Hope Academy. Team Captains were joined by Cleveland Indians pitcher Austin Adams, who helped the students break down and clean up following the event.  Austin was also able to share his volunteer experiences and thoughts with the students and even displayed some of his basketball skills by shooting hoops with the group.

Having only been a part of the Action Team national youth volunteer program for a few months, the dance and 5K were the first events New Hope Academy has participated in for the school year. The Academy’s Action Team isn’t stopping here. This energized and passionate group of high school students already has a number of events scheduled for 2015, including events in support of The Noah Foundation, The Autauga Interfaith Care Center, and The Gillespie Center.

New Hope Academy serves students in grades K – 12 who have learning disabilities and are classified with special needs. Their limitations, however, do not inhibit their abilities to give back to their community as shown this weekend. After the event, Tina Halbert, Director of New Hope, shared her feelings on her students being a part of the Action Team program by stating, “New Hope Academy is so thrilled to be a part of the Action Team, and these events are so important for our students. New Hope is a last resort school for some of our kids. They have given up on school by the time they find us, and many of our kids have severe academic struggles or place on the Autism Spectrum. The Action Team gives them a way to give back to a community who has helped them, and to also practice some real life skills they are being taught at the school.”

For more information about New Hope Academy please visit www.NewHope4Kids.com.

For more information on the Action Team or to #JoinOurTeam please visit www.actionteam.org.