The Charlotte Bobcats have partnered with Wells Fargo and Jordan Brand to focus on educating students about the repercussions of bullying when the Bobcats host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. in the ninth annual Cool School Field Trip.  The theme of this year’s game, which will be attended by more than 15,000 area middle school students, is “Too Cool to Bully.”

 

During the game, students will participate in various activities to help them understand how bullying affects their peers and how to stand up to bullies in their respective schools. Bobcats players and students will also sign a pledge to stop participating in bullying and stand up for those being bullied.

 

“School bullying is a growing concern throughout the Charlotte community among parents, students, teachers and administrators,” said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “As an organization, we want to do our part to make students aware of the impact and harm bullying causes, and assist in helping to combat this behavior in our schools.”

 

Bobcats center Al Jefferson will serve as the team’s face of “Too Cool to Bully” this season. Jefferson has led the charge against bullying by signing the anti-bullying pledge and will take part in various public service announcements that will be played during school assemblies throughout the year to educate middle school students about the ramifications of bullying. Jefferson and the Bobcats, in partnership with Wells Fargo, will also present a $25,000 donation to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ anti-bullying campaign.

 

“Bullying is an important issue in our schools today,” Jefferson said. “My teammates and I want to take the lead in confronting this problem and hopefully putting a stop to bullying in our community.”

 

In addition, Wells Fargo will launch its anti-bullying Too Cool to Bully program that recognizes one CMS student or teacher every month during the 2013-14 Bobcats season for their efforts to prevent bullying.  Too Cool to Bully honorees will receive two tickets to a Bobcats game and be recognized during the game.  The recipient will also receive $1,000 for their dedication and commitment to bullying prevention.

 

“We are excited to support these innovative anti-bullying efforts at the individual, student and teacher level,” said Wells Fargo Community Affairs Manager Jay Everett.

 

For more information on the Charlotte Bobcats and Wells Fargo anti-bullying initiative or to nominate someone for the Wells Fargo anti-bullying Too Cool to Bully program, please visit http://www.nba.com/bobcats/wells-fargo-too-cool-bully-program.