HORNETS, KINGS TAKE TIME OUT TO READ

Local students invited to read with NBA players, legends at Audubon Aquarium

October 30, 2007

New Orleans – Members of the New Orleans Hornets and Sacramento Kings joined NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier today in hosting students from three local elementary schools to help tip-off the Hornets’ Read to Achieve program, and launch the NBA’s All-Star incentive program at Audubon Nature Institute’s Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

Read To Achieve is a global initiative aimed at developing a lifelong love of reading, reaching more than 50 million children worldwide each year. Today’s tip-off event is part of the NBA's league-wide, season-long effort to assist with the on-going rebuilding of New Orleans, and marks the first in a series of events that will reward young people with opportunities to join NBA teams in various activities throughout the Gulf South region.

“Reading is the key to success, no matter what you do or where you live,” said tri-lingual Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic. “I have seen the impact that NBA Cares programs can have on children all over the world, and I’m proud to bring Read To Achieve back to the children of New Orleans with the help of my current teammates from the Hornets and former teammates from the Kings.”

Players split into smaller groups and held reading timeouts with children at stations throughout the aquarium. Every student was then invited aboard the Hornets’ Bookmobile, presented by Best Western International, The World’s Largest Hotel Chain®, to select and take home a book of their choice. This season, the Bookmobile will stop at more than 150 schools throughout the Gulf South to deliver more than 30,000 books to students.

In addition to Bookmobile visits, the Hornets participate in Read To Achieve through a number of programs that include reading incentives, player appearances at schools and resource center remodeling projects.

For more information on the Bookmobile, presented by Best Western International, or any other Read To Achieve activities please visit Hornets.com.