Courtesy of Florida A&M Athletic Communications


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | For this season of giving, Florida A&M Athletics teamed up with Academy Sports + Outdoors to provide some holiday cheer to the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend, with a "curbside surprise."
 
"Giving back to the community is always special. The Boys and Girls club hits home for me because all throughout high school I used to volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club. So, when choosing an organization to give back to, it was a no brainer," Ria Floyd, Coordinator of Special Projects and Marketing for Florida A&M Athletics, said.
 
The Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend submitted their wish list and Florida A&M and Academy Sports sprang into action.
 
Candace Seaborn, Director of Outreach for the Boys and Girls Club, highlighted the need for athletic equipment at the club. The program needed basketballs, tennis balls, kick balls, and golf balls, along with the accessories for various activities for the youth.
 
Academy Sports + Outdoors provided a $1,000 worth of items to the Boys & Girls Club and delivered it, via curbside delivery, alongside Florida A&M student-athletes and cheerleaders.

"Along with the athletic equipment, they also voiced the need for volunteers to assist the children at the clubs in all subject areas. We were excited to get to surprise them with all their needs just in time for Christmas and potentially give them some tutors to assist the children in the Spring," Floyd said. 

Floyd worked directly with Mike Reynolds, Reginal Marketing Specialist from Academy Sports and Outdoors to coordinate the event. With the help of Academy Sports + Outdoors, every Boys and Girls Club in the Big Bend Area will be fully supplied with equipment.
 
Earlier this year, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Academy Sports + Outdoors announced a multi-year partnership, making them the conference's "Official Sporting Goods and Outdoor Retailer."
 
Through the Academy's Community Engagement Platform and Market Moments Campaign, each MEAC member institution collaborated with Academy Sports + Outdoors to highlight schools, youth teams and local initiatives.