“Fast Break to Reading” encourages kids’ summer reading
July 16, 2009 by admin
Filed under basketball, the latest
Most basketball coaches will tell you that a good fast break requires strong team play. In the case of the “Fast Break to Reading” program, Pitney Bowes, the Connecticut-based company has teamed up with the WNBA for a child literacy program.
“Since the league’s inception, reading and literacy has always been an important initiative for the WNBA and our players. We are thrilled to once again work with Pitney Bowes to highlight the significance of education and our athletes are just as excited to deliver this important program to their young fans across the country,” noted WNBA President Donna Orender
Through Fast Break to Reading’s ‘Million Minute Madness’ program kids are encouraged to read, keep track of their reading minutes and report their total online (at www.wnba.com/fbtr) every week of the summer. It’s not too late to join. Ten WNBA teams will help the program reach its million minute goal in 2009: the Atlanta Dream, the Chicago Sky, the Connecticut Sun, the Detroit Shock, the Indiana Fever, the Los Angeles Sparks, the New York Liberty, the Phoenix Mercury, the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics.
These teams have partnered with the following organizations to extend Fast Break to Reading’s benefits to their participating students: Afterschool All-Stars (Atlanta), Chicago Public Libraries, Connecticut Library Consortium, Detroit Public Library, Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis, City Scholars (Los Angeles), Power to Learn (New York), Save the Family (Phoenix), Boys and Girls Club of King County (Seattle), Arlington County Libraries (Washington D.C.)
Each team will host their partnering organization at two WNBA regular season games this summer. The students will be invited to attend the games, sit in a special section of the arena and receive on-court recognition as “reading champions.”
The WNBA teams will also participate in two Reading Time Outs with each partnering organization. At Reading Time Outs, students listen along as a team player or Legend reads one of their favorite books and emphasizes the importance of reading. Pitney Bowes employees will volunteer at each Reading Time Out and bring their own children along to join in on the fun.
Pitney Bowes employees nationwide will participate in the ‘Million Minute Madness’ program. In addition to volunteering at Reading Time Outs, Pitney Bowes employees will host the students from partnering organizations at their offices and promote Fast Break to Reading at WNBA games. They will also read to kids, track those minutes weekly and report them online.
The minute tracking website (www.wnba.com/fbtr) will feature event photos, an embedded program video and a dynamic tracker that will update automatically with each additional reading minute logged in. Users entering their minutes will receive an autographed bookmark featuring a WNBA player (including Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles and Diana Taurasi). A new collectible bookmark will be available for download every week of the summer.
How can I get involved?
KIDS
Step 1: Read every week!
Step 2: Track reading minutes using the minute counter.
Step 3: Receive a bookmark autographed by a WNBA Player!
Step 4: Remember to enter your reading minutes every week to collect all 16 WNBA bookmarks.
ADULTS
Step 1: Encourage your kids to read each week.
Step: Help track their reading minutes. Download and print this handy minute tracker to help kids track minutes in-between visiting the online minute counter.
Step 3: Help spread the word.
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