HISD Board of Education President Manuel Rodríguez Jr. and Houston attorney Bill King have teamed up to support efforts to involve students in sports, especially sports that they can participate in throughout their lives. The Middle School Golf Program provides 100 sets of new golf clubs and play experience to students in the following HISD middle schools: James Deady, Thomas Edison, Charles Hartman, William Holland, Stonewall Jackson, Daniel Ortiz, and William Stevenson . The schools are all located in the east and southeast areas of Houston. Nearly all of the students in each of the schools are in the free or reduced-price lunch programs, and most are considered at risk of dropping out due to socioeconomic factors. "The program will build golf skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem in the individual students," said Rodríguez. "Students will develop athletic interests and lifelong skills while acquiring an additional tool to support their future success." "Golf is an essential part of networking and building business relationships," King added. "By learning the game at an early age, students will not only have an enjoyable outdoor sport in which to participate, they will also have the same advantage as many other students when they graduate from college and enter the business world." The 100 sets of clubs were distributed on May 8 and will permit more students to play on the existing intramural golf teams at Deady, Edison, Holland, Hartman, and Stevenson Middle Schools. New teams are starting at Jackson and Ortiz Middle Schools. Contributors to the program are: Bill King, Art López, the Glenbrook Golf Club, Gulf Winds International, Valero Energy, G & A Investments, the James Rodríguez Campaign, Oak Farms Dairy, and Plumbers Union Local #68.