Not many students can say their school assembly was produced by a major league sports franchise. However, the students of W.D. Williams Elementary school got a special surprise when in the midst of the NFL season, Sir Purr and several of his friends from the Carolina Panthers came to Swannanoa to spread some holiday cheer.
The team, joined by the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation and Coca-Cola Consolidated, took this year’s “Joy to the Carolinas” celebration on the road, and selected W.D. Williams for one of two school visits in the mountains. While planning for an event in the team’s Charlotte home started in July, the blueprint changed after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene in our region.
“It was instant,” said Nicole Tepper. “Our whole department that handles ‘Joy to the Carolinas’ looked at each other and knew we had to go to Western North Carolina.”
The assembly featured a dance competition, led by the Panthers’ Top Cat dance team, a sing-a-long with Buddy the Elf, and a chance to meet former players Kenny Moore and Jonathan Stewart, who were happy to make the trip and matched the excitement of the gym full of cheering students.
“It’s very eye-opening and humbling,” Stewart shared. “This puts things into perspective with what the holidays are all about. The Carolina Panthers play at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, but they represent the whole Carolina community.”
The day concluded with the players, Top Cat dance team, and Sir Purr delivering toys and shoes to students in every classroom, then sending them off with cheers and high-fives as they left for the afternoon.
“Of course they’ll love the presents, but this incredible experience of joy, with the players and dancers and Sir Purr and the cheers and laughter, that’s what they’ll remember most about this day,” said Principal Christy Jones. “That will be the core memory.”
The event sponsors also provided a catered lunch for teachers, stocked the teachers’ lounge with snacks, and helped with outside campus beautification projects.
“Our stewardship program is one of the most important things we do,” said Chad Butcher, of Coca-Cola Consolidated. “There’s a reason ‘joy’ is in the name of this event. Look around this gym, and that’s all you can see.”
Those young smiles brought tears of joy to several of the grown ups in the gym.
“We are so thankful to the Carolina Panthers, the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, and Coca-Cola Consolidated for gifting this special day to our school family,” said Mrs. Jones.
