Astros Foundation partners with Oxy for HISD student supply giveaway

Fifth graders at Dogan Elementary received a surprise visit on Friday, Sept. 6, from representatives of Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and the Astros Foundation. The event marked the start of the school year with donations of books and school supplies. Astros mascot Orbit entertained the students with games and music provided by a DJ.

Oxy and the Astros Foundation collaborated to donate 30,000 school supply items, collected by Oxy employees, to five elementary schools and one middle school in Denver Harbor and greater Fifth Ward, as well as two campuses in HISD’s South Division.

“Occidental and the Astros Foundation have put essential tools in the hands of our young students so that they are unstoppable in the classroom,” said Angelica Adams, Community Relations Liaison with HISD’s Community Partnerships department. “Today we’re celebrating coming back to school, being ready, and being focused.”

The partnership between Oxy and the Astros Foundation has been longstanding, supporting HISD students through various initiatives such as school supply donations, Oxy’s annual bicycle donation program Wish For Wheels, and community programs like Houston Astros MLB Youth Academy.

“It’s so important that we support the kids in our community,” said Paula Harris, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros and Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. “It’s very important not only to encourage health and wellness through sports but through supporting their education and literacy as well.”

Harris engaged with Dogan fifth graders by asking about their favorite Astros players and arranged for them to receive tickets to an upcoming Astros game. She praised their excellent STAAR test scores and emphasized the importance of academic effort, suggesting potential future careers at Oxy or with the Houston Astros.

“Not only does this expose our students to new opportunities, but it also motivates them to be better students and better citizens. It lets them know about the possibilities of their future and the opportunities that they could have beyond the Dogan Nation walls,” said Principal Dr. Rim Mohamed. “It lets them know that they’re not alone; there are a lot of people out there rooting for them and supporting them, who are excited to celebrate their growth, their wins, and their achievements.”