School Supply Drive: Arlington ISD Alumni’s SLAMfest Event Aims to Fill 100 Backpacks

By Office of Communication

Posted on July 31, 2018, July 31, 2018

When it comes to spreading kindness through the community, the Arlington ISD Alumni SLAMfest and Back to School Supply Drive is a slam dunk.

This annual basketball tournament and fundraiser, set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, August 11, aims to collect enough school supplies to fill 100 backpacks for children heading back to the classroom this fall. This year's SLAMfest will be held at the Carter Junior High Gymnasium, 701 Tharp St.

SLAMfest, in its 9th year, is hosted by Jamaal Brown and The Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation.

Alumni from Sam Houston, Lamar, Arlington, Martin and Bowie high schools plan to give back to Arlington and surrounding cities through a joint effort to equip students with the necessary tools to succeed in the classroom, said Jamaal Brown, a former Sam Houston High School alumnus. To show its support for the community and these acts of kindness, the Arlington Police Department Basketball Team will also participate in this year's event.

Admission is $3 for adults at the door. Each basketball player also donates to participate in the fundraiser. The community can also donate school supplies online through the SLAMfest wish list for student on Amazon.

For more information, please visit www.extraordinaryis.org.

The City of Arlington, which launched a Kindness Initiative last year, applauds SLAMfest and the alumni from Arlington high schools who are working to make The American Dream City a kinder place to live, work, play and learn. This annual school supplies drive is a shining example of the positive impact that our citizens can make in the community.

People are encouraged to report acts of kindness that they perform, witness or were the recipient of through the City's Ask Arlington mobile app, on the Acts of Kindness website, or by posting on social media using #ArlingtonKindness and @CityofArlington.

Click here to read more about Acts of Kindness occurring throughout The American Dream City.