C.E. KING HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES DONATED FIELD AFTER HURRICANE DEVASTATION

Houston, TX (May 15, 2018) – Hellas Construction is continuing efforts to provide hurricane relief by donating the Matrix® Turf with Helix Technology football field from NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, to C.E. King High School in Houston. C.E. King High School was underwater after Hurricane Harvey, both the school and the athletic facilities were all severely damaged.

C.E. King is the only high school in the Sheldon ISD school district, located in northeast Harris County. The hurricane damaged four out of the eleven district schools. Hellas lead recovery efforts on the football field and track. The school was closed until January, with classes being held at several of the other campuses in the district.

C.E. King High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Derek Fitzhenry said, "With the flooding came sewer water covering everything including the football field. The fire department washed it off, then Hellas came in and cleaned and sanitized our turf. It allowed us to play our first game. We had students and staff displaced from their homes but when it came time for the games, the parents and community responded and were there to support our players. Our kids had a successful year and due to Hellas, the seniors enjoyed their senior year playing all five home games at their home stadium."  

Hellas went to Harris County, owner of NRG Stadium, and recommended C.E. King High School be the first recipient of the Houston Texans turf donation. Before the hurricanes, Hellas had signed a three-year contract with Harris County to install a new Matrix Helix field each year at NRG Stadium after the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The removed turf was to be donated to an organization in need. The donation committee agreed, Hellas will begin installing the 2017-2018 Houston Texans turf at C.E. King this month.

Fitzhenry has been inspired to see how the community, staff, teachers, and students have handled it all. It's been tough, and challenges still arise, but good things are coming out of it.

"The outreach and caring from throughout the nation for our community is amazing to see. Clothes, supplies, and money was sent from as far away as Maryland or Idaho. It has been amazing to see how much people care, said Fitzhenry."

"I am proud of what we accomplished this year. We even had five kids get scholarships to play college football," he said. "Hellas has been a great asset to us, helping us get this turf has allowed us to spend the money on other priorities that were needed just as bad."

A new high school and stadium are already in the works, with a planned opening in 2020. The C.E. King High School Stadium will become the middle school stadium. The students and staff have dealt with some difficult circumstances, but remained strong, even creating a new motto: "Sheldon Strong."

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