December 17, 2002 -- Chicago Bulls players and family members visited children at the Duncan YMCA Chernin Center for the Arts today as part of their ongoing Read To Achieve program. Bulls guards Jay Williams and Roger Mason, Jr. were joined by their mothers Althea Williams and Marsha Mason-Wonsley as they read stories to the children and spoke to them about the importance and value of reading regularly. Wives of the Bulls coaching staff Sheri Cartwright, Anika Wilhelm and Kim Thornton also assisted at the event along with former Chicago Bull Bob Love and team mascot, Benny the Bull.

Williams

Mason Jr.

Over 45 children, ages 3 to 14 years, heard the story Benny Gets A Bully-Ache and listened to Bulls representatives discuss the joys they receive from reading and encouraged the children to follow their example. Each child received books and reading aids to utilize throughout the year.

The Bulls and Fifth Third Bank launched the second season of the Read To Achieve program in October with the goal to inspire literacy by encouraging families and adults to read regularly with young children. The league-wide National Basketball Association initiative has been in operation by all 29 teams since the fall of 2001.

As part of their year-long Read To Achieve program, the Bulls host frequent reading events for local children, build a reading and learning center in the Chicago area, distribute 5,000 books locally, host a book drive and coordinate a spelling bee for Chicagoland students. As part of the program, the Bulls have enlisted the support of a 25-member All-Star Reading Team including players and their relatives, Chicago dignitaries, local media members and Bulls and NBA representatives. Fifth Third Bank is the official sponsor of the 2002-03 literacy program.

The Duncan YMCA Chernin Center for the Arts is the only YMCA in Chicago dedicated to the arts. The mission is to provide an innovative and imaginative blend of arts and education through productions, workshops, classes and events in order to stimulate dialogue, celebrate our cultural heritage and enrich the human spirit.

The Duncan YMCA Chernin Center for the Arts is a member of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, which is an Association comprised of 31 city and suburban Centers and more than 100 extension sites throughout the Chicagoland area. The Association touches and strengthens the lives of more than 1 million people each year through the essential programs and services it provides to the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago and its surrounding communities.