The AC Phoenix
March 2003
Page 7
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SCHOOl OF HARD KHOCKS APPAREl PAYS
HOMAGE TO HiSTORICAllY BIACK
COLLEGES AHDONIVERSITIES
Legendary urban clothing line to unveil new, limited edition
“HBCU Tradition” designs at 2003 CIAA Tournament
New York City - (Feb. 25, 2003) -School of Hard Knocks Apparel has
announced an unprecedented venture with select Historically Black
Colleges and Universities - the debut of their new “HBCU Tradition”
sportswear line. The limited-edition designs will be unveiled during the
2003 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament held
February 24 through March 1 in Raleigh, NC. Every school participating
in the program receives a percentage of all proceeds from the sales of
SOHK sweatshirts and jerseys emblazoned with their institution’s logo,
making SOHK one of few companies to ever ensure that HBCUs receive
royalties from the use of their name.
“We are proud to have an opportunity to showcase our new logo
during an event that is so rich in heritage and history, the CIAA
Tournament,” says School of Hard Knocks founder Gerard Murray. “Our
line will bring fashionable style to what the school bookstores don’t
really offer. Just as NIKE does with UNC, DUKE and other institutions,
we plan on making the line available to alumni nationwide.”
PEPSI CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
4- --
# Jk ‘ *
The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG), located at the Customer Service
Center in Winston-Salem, NC,
celehrated Black History Month during February. The Diversity Committee
sponsored several events for PBG employees during the month including:
• African American Foods - Sampling of Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and
Desserts • African American History Contests • Diversity Scholarship
Essay Contest • Informational Pamphlets on History, Literature, and Health
Topics. • Voter Registration Drive • Urban League Booth provided by Mr.
Larry Worley • The AC Phoenix, distributed by Mr. Rodney Sumler
With the “HBCU Tradition” line. School of Hard Knocks hopes to revi
talize a sense of pride in wearing apparel from Black colleges and uni
versities. Says Murray, “Because these are limited-edition pieces, we
don’t intend to substitute the quality of the product for quantity. These
items represent generations of tradition.”
“As a graduate of North Carolina Central University I feel proud to be
able to give back to my school in more ways than one,” adds SOHK
co-founder Carol Murray. “While it is important to pay royalties to the
schools, we have also decided to offer scholarships to each school
involved in our licensing program.”
The School of Hard Knocks Sportswear Company, launched as an
extension of family-owned retail store, Von’s Inc., has become one of the
fastest growing urban apparel lines in the country. Murray, along with his
wife Carol, has guided the company from its inception in 1993 as a small
t-shirt operation to a successful urban clothing company complete with
apparel for men and boys. In addition to being available at Von’s, Inc.,
the SOHK line was recently featured in Black Enterprise Magazine as part
of a cover story on Hip-Hop fashion leaders. School of Hard Knocks can
be purchased at national outlets such as Macy’s, Demo and Up Against
the Wall as well as local retailers, including Dr. Jay’s, Epic Designs and
Underground Stations.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is an athletic
conference consisting of twelve Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, of which North Carolina Central University, Shaw University,
Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem University will have clothing
dedicated to their institutions.
If more information on School Of Hard Knocks, please visit
ww.schoolofhardknocksonline.com. For interview opportunities, please
feel free to contact Tanisha Tate, Miles Ahead Entertainment, at
646-772-3441 or tanisha@milesaheadentertainment.com.
JZZ.
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