Celtics Read To Achieve

Antoine Walker shares a good story with new friends from the Hurley School.
Celtics Photo

Members of the Boston Celtics All-Star Reading Team spent the morning of October 23rd reciting stories with students at the Hurley Elementary School in Boston to officially tip-off the NBA’s Read to Achieve Week. The event was highlighted by narrations from Boston Celtics Head Coach Jim O’Brien and his wife, Sharon; Celtics Co-Captains Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker; Celtics legend JoJo White; Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte; Boston Globe writer Shira Springer and WBZ’s Bob Lobel.

The group read eight titles, including Wow! It’s Great to Be a Duck and Will You Be My Friend? and then sat back as two first-grade students returned the favor by reading to the All-Star Reading Team. Outside the classroom, other students used their artistic talents to recreate scenes and characters from their favorite books.

Today’s event tipped-off a season-long partnership between the Boston Celtics and ReadBoston to host reading activities and events that are designed to help promote the importance of reading and education in local youth and their families. Each month, members of the Reading Team will visit a school in the Greater Boston area for a read aloud session.

“We have brought an impressive group of people together for our All-Star Reading Team and I’m excited about working with my new teammates to help kids improve their reading skills,” said Read to Achieve spokesman and Celtics Co-Captain Paul Pierce.

Members of the Boston Celtics All-Star Reading Team include: Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift; Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino; Celtics Head Coach Jim O’Brien and his wife Sharon; Celtics Co-Captains Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker; Celtics legend JoJo White; Celtics Trainer Ed Lacerte; Stacy Conner, wife of Celtics Assistant Coach Lester Conner; WCVB-TV Reporter Amalia Barreda; WCVB-TV Sports Anchor Mike Lynch, WHDH-TV Sports Anchor Gene Lavanchy; WBZ-TV Sports Anchor Bob Lobel; Boston Globe Sports Writer Shira Springer; Fox Sports NET New England General Manager David Woodman.

Paul reads "Let's Go Camping with Mr. Sillypants" to excited first-graders.
Celtics Photo

Throughout the week, the NBA’s 29 teams will host local reading events featuring their local All-Star Reading Teams. Read to Achieve campaign is a year-round national program designed to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read and talk with children regularly. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. The effort includes the annual donation of more than 200,000 books and the creation of Reading and Learning Centers in schools and community based organizations throughout the country.

The program receives league-wide support from the entire NBA family. In addition to being supported by all 29 NBA teams, 16 WNBA teams, and the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), Read to Achieve is supported by the NBA's officials, parents and wives of players organizations, as well as the NBA Players Association and Retired Player Association. Read to Achieve also expands the NBA's existing partnerships with Scholastic Inc., and Reading Is Fundamental.