Utah Jazz Star Derrick Favors Helps Hometown Kids Prepare to Go Back to School

Atlanta, July 30, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Derrick Favors, Atlanta native and star power forward for the Utah Jazz, returned home to his childhood community to treat students to a back to school shopping spree.  25 elementary students from the Atlanta Public School’s Rosel Fann Recreation Center joined Derrick at Walmart in East Point, Georgia to get ready for the upcoming school year.  

Derrick kicked off the shopping trip with a pep talk about his humble beginnings as a student at Cleveland Avenue Elementary, where many of the students currently attend.  He encouraged the students to start the school year with a motivated mindset and emphasized the importance of goal setting.

I love my hometown - this community helped me get where I am today.

Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz Power Forward

The Atlanta native also attended Crawford W. Long Middle School and South Atlanta High School, where he was ranked one of the best high school players in the country in 2009. Favors went on to become a stand out player at Georgia Tech.

“I love my hometown - this community helped me get where I am today,” said Derrick.  “It’s only right that I give back and help the next generation.  I wanted them to know that education is important, and provide them with some of the physical and mental tools they’ll need to be successful in school.”

Derrick’s family and friends assisted in helping the 25 students use their $60 gift cards to purchase backpacks and school supplies.  Derrick chose Walmart because of their reputation for being a low cost leader for school supplies.  With more than 300 items under $1, Walmart helped students get all that they needed to go back to school for less.

The shopping trip concluded with lunch at Subway and a promise from Derrick that he would visit Cleveland Elementary School during the year to reward those students that stayed on track.

Proud sponsors of the event included PepsiCo’s Aquafina brand and Walmart.

To view pictures from the shopping spree, please visit www.Facebook.com/DerrickFavors.

About Derrick Favors: Derrick Favors is a starting forward/center in his fifth NBA season with the Utah Jazz. He was the No. 3 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft from Georgia Tech and was selected to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 2012, he was chosen for the USA Men’s Select Team that trained against the USA Basketball Men’s National Team prior to the Olympic Games. Standing at a dominating 6 foot 10, Derrick’s athleticism, tenacity and sheer drive have helped him establish a strong presence on the court. He has been an active community member and serves as the spokesperson for Ronald McDonald House Charities and participates in numerous Junior Jazz youth basketball clinics, visiting patients at Primary Children’s Hospital and donating Utah Jazz game tickets to non-profit organizations. His hometown is Atlanta, GA., and he now resides in Salt Lake City. To follow Derrick socially: @Dfavors on Twitter & Instagram ~ @DerrickFavors on Facebook