Fifth graders at Dogan Elementary had some surprise visitors on Friday, Sept. 6, when representatives from Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and the Astros Foundation came to help celebrate the start of the school year and donate books and school supplies. Astros mascot Orbit delighted the students with games and dancing to music provided by a DJ.

Oxy and the Astros Foundation partnered to donate 30,000 school supply items, collected by Oxy employees, to five elementary schools and one middle school campus 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.”

Oxy and the Astros Foundation are long-time contributors to the success of HISD students, whether that be through school supply donations, Oxy’s annual bicycle donation, Wish For Wheels, or in the community with programs like Houston Astros MLB Youth Academy, a program that aims to educate urban youth through baseball and softball.

“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 the Dogan fifth graders with questions about their favorite Astros players and even arranged for the Dogan students to receive tickets to an upcoming Astros game. She congratulated the students on their excellent STAAR test scores and spoke about the importance of trying their hardest in school, suggesting that they may be future candidates for jobs at Oxy or with the Houston Astros someday.

“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, that there are a lot of people out there rooting for them and supporting them, and who are excited to celebrate their growth, their wins and their achievements.”