Miami Dolphins players, staff help beautify school in Hialeah
The Miami Dolphins staff, including players and administration officials, on Wednesday participated in a renovation and beautification project at Mae Walters Elementary School in Hialeah.
The initiative is part of the organization’s Community Service Project. Players and other members of the team performed gardening work, painted and carried out other restoration activities.
“We want to give back to the community that has given us so much,” said Marcus Bach-Armas, the team’s director of government affairs, who hopes that when students return to school in August they’re met with something new, fresh and improved and that they’re motivated to learn.
Hialeah is “in the heart of our community” and is always supporting the team, Bach-Armas said.
He also emphasized how important it is for the Dolphins to pay attention to the whole community, not only those who go to the stadium, but those who don’t have the resources to do so.
Jonathan Esponda, a 9-year-old student from the school, said “the Dolphins are good people” in reference to their helping with the renovation at his school. Esponda was wearing a Miami Dolphins cap and T-shirt, and throughout the afternoon yelled “Let’s go Dolphins, baby!”
“Most of Miami-Dade County is made up of Hispanics, and most of our fans are Hispanics,” Bach-Armas said. “The children who attend this school are the kids of our neighbors, of our fans, of our executives.”
Arnie Alonso, the city of Hialeah’s chief of staff, said it was a matter of pride for the city to have the organization, with all of its employees and players, helping to carry out a beautification project.
“This project will benefit all the students who attend this school, which are children who live in the city of Hialeah,” Alonso said.
School principal Milko Briti said that students will be excited when they return to school and see the renovations. He believes it will motivate them to go to school and study.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Miami Dolphins players, staff help beautify school in Hialeah."