2008-09 News and Features

Book Break Challenge impacts students at Chadds Ford Elementary

By Gabriella DiFulvio

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The students at Chadds Ford Elementary were expecting an assembly rewarding them for their recent participation in the 76ers Book Break Challenge. What they got was 76ers player Jason Smith, Hip-Hop and his Hare Raisers!

Students from over 20 elementary and middle schools across the Delaware Valley committed to reading 760 pages during a designated two-month time period. Students who fulfilled this commitment received a certificate of completion, 2 tickets to a Sixers game, and a Hip-Hop bookmark.

This past Wednesday at Chadds Ford Elementary school, player Jason Smith made a special appearance and read Hip-Hop’s favorite book to an auditorium full of children. After reading Bunny's Noisy Book, Smith said this to the students about the importance of reading, "Reading is an every day thing. If you don’t read to achieve, you won’t achieve anything.".

This is the first year the Sixers have held the Book Break Challenge. When asked if they would repeat the contest next year, Community Relations Manager Mike Goings said, "With the success we have had this year, we are excited to repeat this contest next year and we wish to make it bigger and better. We hope to include more schools along with the ones that participated this year."

Hundreds of students across the Delaware Valley participated in the Book Break Challenge and were rewarded with assemblies applauding them for their dedication to bettering themselves through reading.