Students receive holiday gifts

Venetian donates sports equipment

Gragson Elementary students had a ball this holiday when the Venetian gondoliers delivered footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs and basketballs to the school just in time for winter break.

More than 900 students at the school on Dec. 13 received a youth-sized sports ball. The sports balls were just fun toys to many of the children, but to Principal Charles Anderson, they are tickets to promoting positivity through sports and keeping kids off the streets.

"I'd rather have them playing ball than being in the streets. I'd rather have them playing ball than looking for something else to do. I'd rather have them playing ball than kids this age being recruited for gangs," Anderson said. "And they like to play ball."

The idea of play, especially through sports, is important to Anderson. He believes his students benefit from not only the physical activity, but the social interaction and involvement in positive activities. The socioeconomics of the neighborhood is low, and the busier the children are, the better off they are, Anderson said.

"I spend a lot of money every year replenishing the (school's sports) balls," Anderson said. "If the ball goes over the fence and gets lost ... I'd rather them play at home with one of our balls than going out and looking for trouble."

The donation was made through a relationship between the Venetian, Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation and World Vision, a company that helps children in need. The Venetian was approached to help distribute the donation of Baden brand balls, said Joe Ham, public relations director at the Venetian.

Every year, Anderson and his staff collect toys and backpacks for 50 school families in need. Children visit Santa's Workshop, where they choose one toy from each of three tables to put into their backpacks. Anderson typically obtains sports balls for the workshop, but the donation will allow him to purchase other items.

The donation and the workshop also allowed the children to have something to give to their families for the holidays.

"Now we can use the money to buy other toys," Anderson said. "A lot of these kids, even though they're from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, they are looking out for their families."

Whether it's through sports, academics or creative arts, Anderson's main goal is to keep his students focused on the future. Showcasing the strong voices of the gondoliers and visitors like them help students realize they can be successful as long as they pursue their dreams and accomplish their goals, Anderson said.

"I'm always looking for positive role models," Anderson said. "There are a lot of role models out there I'm not sure I want them to follow."


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