[May 19, 2023] Another field day in the books at Dan Mills Elementary School, and the halls were buzzing with excitement. Outside, an equally eager team of 30 volunteers from Piedmont Natural Gas was putting the finishing touches on games for more than 600 Metro Nashville Public School students at the eastside school. “Piedmont has become synonymous with our Field Day!” said Executive Principal Robby Yates. He is absolutely right because Piedmont, the school’s longtime PENCIL Partner, has hosted it for 20 years.
After two decades, putting on Field Day is a breeze for this team. They transform the schoolyard into an organized maze of stations, build an “inflatables park,” and provide hotdogs, chips, and drinks for everyone. “Our employees love it out here,” remarked Stephen Francescon, Piedmont’s government and community relations manager, and Robby echoed, “It’s fantastic to see them so enthusiastic and our kids so excited.”
Students in grades K-2 could barely contain their delight as they filed out of the building to their first activity. Piedmont volunteers divided them into teams for classic games like the three-legged race, sack race, and tug-of-war and lined them up for a trip down the inflatable slide. Elsewhere, both volunteers and teachers took their chances in the dunk tank. “These guys have been coming forever and doing it all,” said art teacher Juky Holt, pointing to a drenched employee. “They are the best partner ever!” The team kept things running smoothly and safely until lunch. After a short break, they were gladly at it again when grades 3-5 received their turn at all the fun.
The long-running Partnership between Piedmont Natural Gas and Dan Mills Elementary School first came about when the company heard of an employee helping in her child’s classroom there. Interested in giving back and learning more, they came to PENCIL and signed up to be the school’s Partner. The company has been an unwavering supporter ever since. And that commitment will definitely continue. One former Dan Mills student is now a Piedmont employee and just attended her first field day as a volunteer. She’s already looking forward to going back!
Although field day heralds the end of another school year, PENCIL is already looking ahead to the next one. Learn how you and your company can make a difference as a Partner during one of our information sessions (click here) or join us at the Back to School Breakfast on August 24 to hear from Partners and the students they impact (click here).
Photo Gallery
A Look at Volunteering From Both Sides
