New park at Fleming Middle School receives ground-breaking
$50,000 donation from Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta

Houston, TX (January 03, 2007) – As part of its commitment to being actively involved in the communities they serve, Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta have made a $50,000 donation to SPARK to fund the Fleming Middle School Park, which will open at Fleming Middle School in 2007. In a neighborhood sorely lacking in recreational facilities, the park’s amenities will include an asphalt track, workout stations, and lighting for safe nighttime recreation. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the park’s football and soccer goals and digital scoreboard.

A newspaper article about the lack of soccer fields for inner city kids flagged the attention of executives at Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta. They requested a meeting with members of the mayor’s office, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and HISD to explore how middle school playgrounds could be converted into community centers for after-school activities. This meeting, held just two years ago, SPARKed the idea of using SPARK funds to build “mini stadiums” complete with lights for nighttime activity, on the middle school playgrounds.

Yellow Cab took the lead, issuing a challenge grant benefiting the proposed SPARK park at Fleming Middle School. In response, HISD made a commitment to provide lighting for the field and Kathleen Ownby, SPARK executive director, secured an additional $25,000 in funding from the Brown Foundation.

 “This is a great example of how company-community partnerships can not only create aesthetic change but positively enhance the social dynamics of a city,” said Houston Council Member Jarvis Johnson - District B.

“We appreciate the business partners that support our schools. Their support is critical in providing enrichment opportunities for our students,” said Kevin H. Hoffman, HISD Trustee, District II.

"Yellow Cab is to be commended for being a model corporate citizen," says Kathleen Ownby, SPARK Executive Director.  "The $50,000 contribution for the SPARK Park at Fleming Middle School shows the company's genuine interest in improving the community where their employees and independent contractor drivers work and live."

In addition to the new SPARK park at Fleming, Yellow Cab and Taxis Fiesta are committed to working with SPARK in building similar parks at McReynolds and E. O. Smith middle schools in the future. These schools, like Fleming, are part of the Wheatley feeder pattern.  “We are very excited about the opportunity to support this vital community resource,” said Yellow Cab President Robert Rugg.

About SPARK

The  SPARK School Park Program is a non-profit organization operating out of the City of Houston Mayor's office.  SPARK was founded in 1983 as a way to increase park space in Houston, Texas by developing neighborhood parks on public school grounds. SPARK combines the resources of the Department of Housing and Community Development, eight local school districts, Harris County, the private sector, neighborhood groups, PTA/PTO groups and concerned citizens. For more information about SPARK, log onto www.SPARKpark.org.

 About Yellow Cab
Yellow Cab Company is Houston’s only computer dispatched taxi fleet.  With more than 1,200 independent contractor-operated cabs in the Houston area, Yellow Cab’s taxi service is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.  All cabs are equipped with digital cameras as well as Global Positioning Systems.  For more information, log onto www.yellowcabhouston.com.

 About Taxis Fiesta

Serving Houston for 20 years, Taxis Fiesta is Houston’s only bilingual computer dispatched fleet.  With more than 200 independent contractor operated cabs, Taxis Fiesta’s taxi service is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.  All cabs are equipped with digital cameras as well as Global Positioning Systems.  For more information, log onto www.taxisfiesta.com.

 

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