MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The Carolina Panthers, the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, the John M. Belk Endowment and Classroom Central held a major back-to-school backpack and supplies distribution event Thursday for the Marion County School District (MCSD) at the Mullins Recreational Gym.
The district is one of the eight in the Carolinas to benefit from the distribution!
Panthers pride filled the gym as students from the Academy of Early Learning and North Mullins Primary School joined in a spirited pep rally to kick off the school year.
Xavier Legette of Mullins is a wide receiver with the Carolina Panthers.
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The district’s Facebook page shared the following message:
“We were especially proud to welcome Xavier Legette’s family, who helped spread Panther cheer. We are truly grateful for the Panthers’ commitment to our students, schools, and community.”
The partnership between the Carolina Panthers, the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, the John M. Belk Endowment, and Classroom Central “has grown to fund 25,000 backpacks annually through Backpacks & Basics, while also expanding year-round school supply access through the Learning Locker initiative. This year, the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation and Carolina Panthers are filling a gap of 13,000+ additional backpacks to meet the needs of the community for a total of 38,000+ backpacks with school supplies for the 2025-’26 school year.”
Classroom Central’s five-year strategic goals include “reaching 104,000 students annually by 2029, serving 54% of eligible teachers, and distributing $14 million in free school supplies.”
The Carolina Panthers have been proud supporters of Classroom Central since its founding in 2002.