Supporting our education community is one of the best ways to invest in a bright future for our city.  We’ve witnessed first-hand, so many times, the lift that students, teachers and families get when we lend a hand to neighborhood schools.

Back to school season has become a favorite time at Orion to show our support.  This year, one school in particular, out of the 9 we have adopted, needed a special boost: Havenview Middle School.  Havenview is part of the newly created Whitehaven Empowerment Zone, the first of five schools to undergo the initiative rollout.  We wanted to do something extra to show our support and let them know we are rooting for their success.

On the Friday before the first day of school, a team of 6 Orion employees visited the campus to deliver a truckload of donations:

First were 6 new bicycles – 2 for each grade – as a prize incentive for students to achieve perfect attendance.

DeMia Mays, Orion Business Development Representative

Crystal Roach, SCS Adopt-A-School Coordinator

Billy Farmer, Orion Facilities Manager

Second – supplies for the campus bookstore.  Bulk purchases from our corporate office, supplemented by many generous donations from our employees, filled the empty shelves of Havenview’s bookstore with much-needed basic everyday items.

Last, we treated the teachers to lunch and spirit-day tees.

Robin Parson, Whitehaven Branch Manager (far left); Trevia Chatman, BDO (2nd left); Jason Bolden, Havenview (center); Crystal Roach, SCS Adopt-A-School Coordinator (2nd right); DeMia Mays, Orion BDR (far right)

Orion BDO, Trevia Chatman (right) distributes tees to Havenview’s teachers

On the first day of school, our entire Whitehaven Branch staff was on hand to celebrate this new chapter in Havenview’s journey.  To new principal Darla Young and the entire staff and faculty of HMS, we wish you the best of success!