Education Programs: Read to Achieve presented by International Paper

The NBA’s Read to Achieve Program is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. Read to Achieve is designed to encourage our community’s youth to develop a life-long love for reading and to promote the value of reading and literacy.

Each year, the Read to Achieve program touch the lives of nearly 25,000 Mid-South students through the Grizzlies Reading Challenge, Read to Achieve Assemblies, Grizzlies All-Star Reading Team and Grizzlies Reading and Learning Centers.

Grizzlies Read to Achieve Tip-Off

Each season, the Grizzlies tip-off the Read to Achieve program by hosting an all-school assembly at an elementary school that participated in the Grizzlies Reading Challenge the previous year. The Grizzlies All-Star Reading Team, Grizz, and Grizz Girls are all on hand to help promote the importance of reading. During the 2009-2010 season, the Grizzlies hosted The Tip-Off at Norris Elementary with nearly 300 students in attendance. 2009 Tip-Off Recap | 2009 Spanish Read to Achieve en Espanol.

Grizzlies Reading Challenge

The Grizzlies Reading Challenge is a six-week reading program that encourages third through fifth grade students to read outside their classroom curriculum. The top students from each school with the most books read receive the opportunity to attend the Grizzlies Read to Achieve Celebration at FedExForum. Registration for The Challenge starts in October with the program tipping off in January. Only the first 60 schools to register are eligible to attend The Celebration. The Grizzlies Reading Challenge is open to Memphis City Schools, Shelby County, Desoto County, and Fayette County Schools, as well as local Private and Independent schools.

Read to Achieve Assembly Program

The Grizzlies Read to Achieve Assembly Program encourages elementary age students to have fun while they read their favorite books. Each all-school assembly is designed to create a fun atmosphere while promoting the importance of reading. During the assemblies, the Grizz Girls and a Grizzlies staff member serve as guest readers, while Grizz acts out sections of the book. Only schools that participate in the Grizzlies Reading Challenge are eligible to participate in the Grizzlies Read to Achieve Assembly Program.

Grizzlies All-Star Reading Team

To create a fun atmosphere during Read to Achieve Assemblies, members of the Grizzlies All-Star Reading Team visit select schools to encourage students to continue to read and develop a life-long love for reading. This season, Grizzlies players DeMarre Carroll, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Steven Hunter, and Zach Randolph joined the All-Star roster.