Carolina Panthers give 5K backpacks to Spartanburg students

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC.C. (WSPA) — Tyger River Elementary students kicked off their first week back at school with a little help from the Carolina Panthers.

“We had told them we had something special for them on Wednesday, but we didn’t tell them it was a pep rally, they knew something special would happen,” said Shayne Daugherty, principal at Tyger River Elementary. “They all got these shirts laid on their desk when they got to school, that was a surprise, and everybody said put these on we’re going to a special party.”

Guests, like professional cheerleaders, Sir Purr, the panthers mascot and Tyger River staff were introduced to the students, before playing in contests with them.

“It’s especially meaningful for us today to be in Spartanburg,” said Riley Fields, director of community relations for the Carolina Panthers. “Obviously Spartanburg is family, Spartanburg will always be a part of the Panthers family. While training camp is happening in Charlotte, the relationships that we have with Spartanburg and how we are going to continue to pour back into the Spartanburg community will never wane.”

The event focused on awarding students for their reading and exercise goals, something Tyger River hopes to continue to do this upcoming school year.

“We have common goals here, we want every kid to be who they are and we meet every child where they are,” said Daugherty. “That’s what they were explaining today, you don’t have to be the best reader, you don’t have to be someone that is a top notch reader, but we want you to be a reader.”

Approximately 5,000 backpacks were given to Spartanburg District 5 students, each filled with supplies and school necessities.

“Now they are walking into the classroom with confidence, they’re walking into the classroom prepared,” said Fields. “When they are prepared, they are engaged. So it goes all the way from look good, feel good, play good, to being able to walk into the classroom to be an engaged student.”

The Panthers said Spartanburg District 5 is one of four school districts in the Carolinas receiving filled backpacks, and Anderson school district one in the Upstate is also a recipient.

The distribution is funded through a partnership between Carolina Panthers charities, the David and Nicole Tepper foundation, and the John M. Belk endowment.

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