PHILADELPHIA, PA - Feb. 27, 2003 - The Philadelphia 76ers began their celebration of March as Read to Achieve month on Friday, Feb. 28 with a book drive and in-game events to promote reading and up coming school visits.

BOOK DRIVE: As part of the 76ers Read to Achieve program, the Sixers asked fans who attend the Utah contest on Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, to bring a new or gently-used children’s book. The book drive will also take place for each of the four home games in March. Sixers staff and Sixers Dance Team members in Read to Achieve T-shirts will be at the doors of the First Union Center collecting the books beginning at 6 p.m. The donated literature will be given to the Philadelphia READS program, who will distribute the books to schools, after-school and summer programs, and community organizations.

BOOK SWAP: Immediately following the National Anthem, randomly selected children, who were standing on the court, received a new Dr. Seuss book from a Sixers player. The children received such Dr. Seuss classics as “Cat in the Hat”, “10 Apples Up on Top!” and “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.” The books were given out in honor of Dr. Seuss’ 99th birthday, which was March 2.

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READING CORNER: The Sixers also set-up a “Reading Corner” for the Jazz game near the Broad Street Atrium on the main concourse. The area was arranged as a reading lounge with books, bean bag chairs and the Read to Achieve banner. Ten children were randomly selected to visit the “Reading Corner” at halftime where a member of the Sixers Read to Achieve team read a short story to the youngsters. Afterwards, each child received a copy of Scholastic Magazine and a Read to Achieve bookmark.

VISITS: General Manager Billy King was on hand at the PECO building (2301 Market St.) on Monday, March 3 from 10-11 a.m. for the second annual Read Across Philadelphia Day, the annual celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Philadelphia READS, is part of the National America READS program, which attempts to assure all school children read well and independently by the end of the third grade. The effort was a collaboration with the School District and the Free Library of Philadelphia. King was also scheduled to read at the St. Barnabas School (6328 Buist Ave.) at 1 p.m. on March 3. 76ers Executive Vice President Dave Coskey was at Woodbine Elementary School on March 3 at 1 p.m. for a celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Additionally, Hip-Hop and members of the Sixers Read To Achieve Team will be making school visits throughout the month: