By Mike Hirschman , Sports Information Director
UNCG will play Virginia Tech on Jan. 10 in the Greensboro Coliseum, and the students and staff of Eastern Guilford High School can attend at no charge.
Posted 12-13-06
GREENSBORO, NC – UNCG’s Athletic Department will be reaching out to the staff and students of Eastern Guilford High School over the next few weeks.
UNCG got things rolling on Dec. 21 by giving free admission to all Eastern Guilford staff and students for the Spartans’ men’s basketball game against St. Peter’s.
The UNCG - Virginia Tech doubleheader at the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 10, will be the focus of a series of events for Eastern Guilford staff and students. The package has been planned by the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Atlantic Coast Conference, UNCG, Virginia Tech and Tournament Host Committee of Greensboro have put together
The Tournament Host Committee has announced it will make a donation of $2 per ticket sold to benefit Eastern Guilford’s athletic department and the school’s band. The entire Eastern Guilford student body and faculty is invited to attend and will receive complimentary tickets for the doubleheader, which gets under way with the women’s contest at 5 p.m. The men’s game will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.
“Like a number of agencies and groups in the area, we’ve sort of adopted Eastern Guilford High School since the devastating fire on November 1,” said UNCG Chancellor Patricia A. Sullivan. “We know that the students and faculty there need all the help and support they can get in order to put their school life back together.
“We’re happy for them to use our Fleming Gym for some of their home games and practice. I also hope the community will come out to the UNCG-Virginia Tech game on Jan. 10, which has the potential to raise a good amount of money for Eastern Guilford from the ticket sales.”
The first 200 Eastern Guilford students through the gate on Jan. 10 will receive a gift card courtesy of Aeropostale. In addition, Virginia Tech has invited the Eastern Guilford High School band to serve as the Hokies’ Pep Band for the evening.
UNCG is also serving as the host for 10 Eastern Guilford “home” basketball doubleheaders this season since the school’s home court was destroyed by fire, along with most of the school grounds, back on Nov. 1. Eastern Guilford played its first games at Fleming Gym this past weekend.
"We are more than happy to assist the Eastern Guilford High School family at such a difficult time,” said Athletics Director Nelson Bobb. “Along with UNCG serving as the temporary home for some of the practices and many home games for Eastern Guilford's basketball teams, we wanted to be able to provide opportunities for the community to unite and spend time together as it did before the tragic destruction of the school.”
“The loss from the fire that destroyed Eastern Guilford High School has been deeply felt throughout this community,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “We are pleased to join Virginia Tech, UNCG, the Coliseum Complex and Tournament Host Committee in offering an opportunity for the students and staff who have been separated by grade level and are currently attending different schools. We hope this will be a time for everyone to get together and enjoy a fun-filled evening of basketball.”
“While the fire has separated our students and staff physically, opportunities such as the UNCG-Virginia Tech games allow Eastern Guilford High School the opportunity to come together as a family,” Eastern Guilford Principal Dr. Lisa Cooke said. “This is something that we cherish and for that we are grateful.”
Tickets for the doubleheader are on sale now to the general public at the Greensboro Coliseum advance box office, on-line at www.tickets.com, at Tickets.com outlets or by calling Tickets.com toll free at (888) 397-3100. Tickets are $10 and $25 with a limited number of courtside VIP seats also available. “Family Four-Packs,” are also available and provide patrons with four tickets, four Pepsi-colas and four hot dogs for $40 (please note the “Family Four Pack” is available for purchase at the Coliseum box office only).
“This is a fantastic opportunity for this community to continue to show its support for Eastern Guilford,” said Coliseum managing director Matt Brown. “Ticket buyers will not only get to see two exciting games, but also can feel good knowing that a portion of the tickets sales will help such a worthy cause.”
Further contributions to the high school can be made through the web site, www.guilfordeducationalliance.org, and click on the DonorsChoose North Carolina logo. DonorsChoose has agreed to fast-track proposals from Eastern Guilford High teachers and get them onto the website as soon as they can. Check back from time-to-time for new proposals.
Approximately half of the Eastern Guilford student body has been taking classes at the Guilford Center for Innovative Development since Nov. 14, following Chancellor Sullivan's offer of the facilities. The GCID is on the site of the former N.C. Central School for the Deaf.
