The Lakers Promote Literacy and the Joy of Reading In Hawaii
The Los Angeles Lakers have planned various activities to promote literacy among Hawaii’s youth while in training camp the first two weeks in October. Through the Lakers Youth Foundation and the Read to Achieve program, the Lakers work hard to promote literacy and the joy of reading in young people. From September 30 to October 6, the Barnes & Noble Ala Moana donated a percentage of their book sales to support the Lakers Reading Rooms at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii. On October 6, the Laker Girls stopped by the store to sign autographs and thank fans for their support.
On Tuesday, October 9, Lakers players Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Brian Cook and the Laker Girls dedicated a Lakers Reading Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii's Hale Pono Clubhouse in Ewa Beach. As part of the team’s Read to Achieve initiative, the room will provide club members with a fun and safe environment dedicated to learning and reading. This is the team’s second Lakers Reading Room in Hawaii and ninth overall. The first Lakers Reading Room in Oahu was dedicated at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s Spalding Clubhouse during the team’s last visit in 2005.
At the Lakers first exhibition game against Golden State at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Stan Sheriff Center on Tuesday, fans were encouraged to bring a new children’s book to benefit the two Lakers Reading Rooms in Hawaii. This drive will continue during the exhibition game on October 11. The Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii is also holding a raffle drawing at both exhibition games to raise funds for the Lakers Reading Rooms. Fans can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win autographed Lakers memorabilia.
Last month, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Honolulu Advertiser’s NIE program partnered to conduct a reading challenge for Oahu schools. Students, grades 3-8, were asked to record the amount of minutes spent reading outside of the classroom over a period of two weeks. The class with the highest average number of minutes will enjoy a Reading Time Out, a private read-aloud session, with the Lakers before the exhibition game on October 11. This class is also invited to come to the game that night and cheer the Lakers as they take on Golden State. The team is also awarding Lakers prizes to all students who read 30 minutes or more each day during the challenge. “The people of Hawaii have always shown the Lakers tremendous support, and we are honored to be able to give back to the community by providing positive educational opportunities that will enrich the lives of local youth,” said Eugenia Chow, Lakers Director of Community Relations. “We are excited to continue our Read to Achieve program and further promote literacy by creating our second Lakers Reading Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.”
Lakers Read to Achieve aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading in youth, promote the value of reading and online literacy and encourage adults to read regularly with young children. The Lakers have long considered Hawaii a second home and are committed to using its resources to provide positive educational, athletic and recreational opportunities that will enrich the lives of Hawaii’s children and young adults.
Lakers players, Laker Girls and club members unveil the Lakers Reading Room by pulling Maile Lei, a Hawaiian tradition.
Brian Cook and Lamar Odom show students the colorful watercolors by artist Peggy Chun in the book The Watercolor Cat.
The Lakers players, Laker Girls and students from Ilima Middle School pose for a group photo
The Lakers players pose with the authors of The Watercolor Cat, Peggy Chun (center) and Shelly Mecum (right).
