It’s not hard to get excited about the upcoming school year when the Dallas Mavericks ManiAACs are your hype guys.
The all-male dance crew, known for bringing the energy during their fun halftime shows at Mavericks games, helped kick off the excitement at the Mayor’s Back to School Fair press conference.
Other mascots who turned out included the Dallas Police Department’s McGruff the Crime Dog, Dallas Fire-Rescue’s Sparky the Fire Dog, the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability’s Dew, Guaranty Bank’s CASH, the State Fair of Texas’ Little Big Tex, SMU’s Peruna, and Half Price Books’ Bookworm.
The fair — a collaborative effort between the City of Dallas, Dallas ISD, nonprofits, corporations, and community volunteers – will take place on Aug. 1 at Fair Park in the Automobile Building and Centennial Hall.
Each year, it serves more than 10,000 economically disadvantaged students from Pre-K to Grade 12 and their families.
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“Each year, (the fair) equips thousands of kids and families with what they need to succeed in the school year ahead,” Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson said. “(It) exemplifies the very best of the Dallas spirit, showing that our city is committed to supporting our neighbors in need and ensuring that everyone is able to take advantage of the great opportunities Dallas has to offer.”
For nearly 30 years, the fair has been a one-stop shop for school supplies, valuable services, and community resources. Pre-registered Dallas students and their families will receive school supplies and have access to immunizations, dental screenings, vision exams, and other health and social services provided by more than 100 vendors.
“The success of our students is a shared journey, and the Mayor’s Back to School Fair is where our entire Dallas community comes together to ignite the spark for a bright future filled with learning and opportunity,” Dallas ISD associate superintendent Dr. Mark Ramirez said.
The Junior League of Dallas (JLD) will recruit, train, and support the more than 500 event volunteers.
“JLD is committed to the promise of every child’s potential and building future leaders for our community,” JLD president Tandra Allen said. “We believe every child in Dallas should have what they need to start the school year strong.”
