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The Drè Bly Foundation Shares an American Tradition with Immigrant and Refugee Students in Denver Public Schools

DENVER (Nov. 21, 2008) -- When Denver Public Schools opened Place Bridge Academy this fall as a “newcomer school” for recent immigrants and refugee students, everyone knew it would be a year of firsts – a new school for most of the 745 students, as well as a new country with new traditions and a new language.

The K-8 school is like a mini United Nations, with students from Mexico, Myanmar, Somalia, Bhutan, and the Congo, among others, and 34 different languages represented. So it made sense that Denver Broncos cornerback Drè Bly and his Drè Bly Foundation would feel compelled to make new arrivals feel welcome and enjoy the most American of our holidays, Thanksgiving!

Through the DPS Foundation’s School Partners Program the Drè Bly Foundation has partnered with Place for its second year. “My goal is to inspire and encourage students to study hard, always play smart and always remember to be a good citizen,” says Bly, founder of the Drè Bly Foundation.

Bly has always felt a need to make a difference and has a strong sense of community instilled in him from his teacher parents. This year he will literally bring Thanksgiving to Place families when he delivers 500 King Soopers turkeys and two sides on Tuesday, November 25 to Place families at the Pine Creek Apartments clubhouse (600 South Dayton St.) from 5:00-6:15 p.m., and at Grace Apartments community room (1255 Yosemite St.) from 6:30-7:45 p.m. For most students and their families this will be their first Thanksgiving, and to have the meal personally delivered by a Denver Broncos player will make it a Thanksgiving they will never forget.

About the Schools Partner Program
The School Partners Program (www.denverspp.org) is designed to cultivate, nurture and sustain partnerships between DPS schools and business and community organizations. Partners provide financial and non-financial resources to DPS schools and the students they serve. Piloted in 2006-07 at 21 schools, the program now has expanded to 61 schools. The School Partners Program is an initiative of the DPS Foundation and made possible by generous underwriting from the Qwest Foundation.

About the Denver Public Schools Foundation
DPS Foundation (www.dpsfoundation.org) raises and manages funds in support of the district’s ambitious reform plan – The Denver Plan – to improve student achievement. Through top-notch professional development for principals, enhanced teacher training, improved curriculum and quality of instruction, student enrichment programs, and community partnerships, we are helping to reshape Denver Public Schools into the leading big city school district in the country.

About The Dré Bly Foundation
The Dré Bly Foundation (www.drebly32.com) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which was founded in 2003 by University of North Carolina graduate and NFL cornerback, Dré Bly. The Foundation was designed to improve education through physical excellence, to provide the necessary resources to assist schools in need of developing and retaining effective after-school programs, and to encourage today’s youth to excel in academics, athletics and citizenship.

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Media Contact:

Natalie Wilkins

DPS Foundation

720-423-3877