Plaxico Burress’ Visit To Green Run HS Announces Campaign

VIRGINIA BEACH

NFL Super-Star and Virginia Beach-native Plaxico Burress is returning to his hometown on Thursday, Feb. 23, to celebrate Black History Month by honoring his own Green Run High School. Burress’ visit is part of a campaign between the Plaxico Burress Foundation and the Banneker Franklin Foundation to bring awareness and support to the nation’s high school drop-out rate crisis.

During the visit, Burress will present a commemorative Banneker clock to Green Run High School and participating Historically Black Colleges & Universities of Virginia and North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State University. The efforts are to grow awareness of Benjamin Banneker, the 18th-century African American inventor, mathematician, astronomer who is credited with making the first fully assembled clock in America,  and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, who is credited for supporting and endorsing the abolitionist movement.

The occasion will announce the “Time for Greatness” campaign and Burress’ intent to motivate Green Run High School’s 2013 graduating class by funding programs for at-risk students. The campaign calls for offering the incentive and gift of Banneker Franklin graduation jewelry and providing scholarships. To keep the momentum going, Burress will also issue a challenge to his celebrity friends to follow suit.

The Plaxico Burress Foundation and Banneker Franklin Foundation have the mutual mission of bringing awareness to the nation’s alarming high school drop-out rate and offer support via partnerships with celebrities and corporations. Via the Banneker Franklin Foundation, every celebrity is challenged to adopt his own alma mater high school by gifting graduation Banneker Franklin class jewelry; providing scholarships; and offering support vehicles to teens that are the most at risk. The “celebrity” in turn challenges a peer and thus a snowball effect of support, incentive and encouragement is bestowed upon

the nation’s youth.