MOBILE, Ala. – New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson visited Calloway-Smith Middle School in downtown Mobile on Wednesday. As part of her annual Season of Giving, Benson announced that she is donating furniture for the school’s lobby and for student reading nooks.

She came to Mobile as a partnership with the Fuse Project’s Academic Support Program through the Avenue Bridge Collaboration (ABC). Fuse supports students and teachers at Calloway-Smith, nearby Florence Howard Elementary, and The Pathway, all part of Mobile County Public Schools.

Calloway-Smith Principal Nedra Payton, School Board Member Sherry McDade, other officials, as well as Calloway-Smith cheerleaders, band members and cadets with the LOTC program greeted Benson, Gumbo, the Saints’ mascot, and cheerleaders at the school.

“It’s a blessing for our school to receive this donation from Mrs. Benson,” said Calloway-Smith Principal Nedra Payton. “We’re going to have new furniture in every area of the school, and there are going to be reading nooks so that students can move into the hallway when they finish their assignments and have a place to read. We thank her and the Fuse Project.”

Benson has been making stops in Louisiana and Mississippi to announce similar donations at Boys and Girls Clubs, food banks and assisted living communities.

“I wanted to be here in Mobile with these kids, and I think they’re doing a great job,” Benson said. “We are just so happy, and we feel very blessed to be able to do this.”