76ers Celebrate Read to Achieve Week

Check out more photos from the tip-off event

by: Gregory Sklenar, sixers.com

The 76ers practice facility was converted into a star-studded reading center for 200 excited first and second graders from Mann Elementary School on Oct. 21, 2002. All of the Sixers players and staff along with Hip-Hop, Special Assistant to the Commissioner and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, and Sixers radio voice Tom McGinnis took part in the 76ers Read To Achieve Tip-Off Event.

This is the second year that the 76ers hosted this event and once again, it was a huge success. Read To Achieve is a year-round program sponsored by all 29 NBA and 16 WNBA teams. The goal of the program is to encourage and promote reading in schools throughout the country. Through the creation of Reading and Learning Centers the program is making reading materials and technology available to young people everywhere.

Hip-Hop tipped off the event by greeting the eager students and demonstrating his acrobatic flips. After entertaining the children, McGinnis introduced the players, who each received a huge round of applause.

Monty Williams spoke about the importance of reading and told the students, “Reading is a powerful tool and that you can’t be successful without it.”

After Williams spoke, the students were divided into small reading groups, each teamed up with two special hosts. After a half-hour of reading, special 76ers bags filled with treats and books were distributed to the children. The program concluded with all of the participants reciting the Read to Achieve pledge.

“It was terrific to see these beautiful, bushy-eyed kids and our players, sitting around on the gym floor with the kids draped on every word and making the words come to life for the youngsters.” said Lanier.

James Cauley, a representative for the Mann School said that the students didn’t know that they were going to see the 76ers until about a week ago.

“The reason that we didn’t tell them was because once everyone found out about it, everyone wanted to go,” said Cauley.

The end of the event will only serve as a beginning for more to come. The students will continue to do independent reading at home and school along with participation in the 100 Book Reading Club.

“The event will boost their morale and encourage them to read,” Cauley said.