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Phone Company Employees Call On Shaw Elementary

Tribune photo by LENORA LAKE

A team of volunteers from Florida T-Mobile carried wood for an outdoor stage at Shaw Elementary School, 11311 N. 15th St. Thursday's work project was one of 16 Huddle Up projects nationwide in 2008 by T-Mobile, in conjunction with the service organization City Year.

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By LENORA LAKE

Published: November 20, 2008

NORTH TAMPA - Greeted by hundreds of clapping students, about 175 volunteers came ready to work this morning.

The Tampa Bay area's first Huddle Up at Shaw Elementary School had about 150 T-Mobile Florida employees and about 25 team members from City Year, a national youth service organization.

Huddle Up is a 3-year old national program, sponsored by T-Mobile that seeks to improve schools and community centers that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families. The Shaw project was the last of 16 nationwide in 2008.

Today the volunteers sought to beautify the campus at 11311 N. 15th St. by painting the interior of the cafeteria, multi-purpose room and music portables. They also plan to construct an outdoor theater with seating for 100 and to create a "Huddle Up Zone" room for family involvement.

Local T-Mobile employees also raised $6,000 for school supplies and the international company funded the materials for the projects.

A 15-member student youth advisory team met previously with leaders for the project and helped identify needs and areas for improvement, said Tracie Napoli, Shaw's Title I liaison.

"They went around for three hours picking out colors. They also wanted mops and vacuums for the custodians," Napoli said. "The only thing they asked for themselves was a Wii."

Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, school board members and other administrators greeted the volunteers, who stood in teams on the school's courts waiting to go to work.

"This is so inspiring," Elia told them. "You all are showing that you care."

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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