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76ERS BOOKED SOLID FOR READING MONTH!

MONTH’S EVENTS TO INCLUDE BOOK DRIVE, COACH CHEEKS’ BOOK CLUB, CELEBRITY READING CORNERS, SCHOOL VISITS FROM HIP-HOP AND MUCH MORE

Philadelphia, PA - February 26, 2008- The 76ers are pulling out all the stops as they celebrate Reading Month this March. Not only is Head Coach Maurice Cheeks spearheading the efforts with his own Book Club, but 76ers players Andre Iguodala, Jason Smith and Kevin Ollie will be teaming up for the 76ers Book Drive. Sharing in the joy of reading, the likes of Kamal Gray from the Roots and former Sixers player Doug Overton and many more will serve as guest readers during each home game in March. From start to finish, the Sixers plan to wrap their arms around this opportunity to promote the increase of literacy rates in the greater Philadelphia area.

“Getting involved and being active in the community is something we take great pride in,” said 76ers Senior Vice President of Business Operations Lara Price. “And when it comes to something as important as reading and literacy rates, we work to take an ‘all hands on deck approach’ to make a difference.”

Below are some of the key events the Sixers have lined up for reading month:

  • COACH CHEEKS’ BOOK CLUB TIP-OFF (March 6): Coach Cheeks will meet with high school students to introduce the book Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life - by Tony Dungy. Coach Cheeks will explain why he selected the book and encourage the students to join his book club and explore reading not only when required, but also in their spare time.

    Serving as a follow-up to Coach Cheeks’ Book Club Tipp-Off, the selected students will reconvene with Coach Cheeks on March 25 to discuss Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life - by Tony Dungy, sharing their favorite parts of the book, while holding an open dialogue.


  • 76ERS BOOKS AND BASKETBALL BONANZA (March 18): 76ers players and Hip-Hop take to the road to visit with area students where they will set up shop for the afternoon, playing a variety of themed reading games for assorted awards and prizes!


  • READ FOR RONALD AWARDS CEREMONY (March 27): Sixers players and Ambassador of 76ers Basketball World B. Free will visit the Ronald McDonald House as esteemed students will be honored for raising money for the house through the Sixers read For Ronald program.


  • 76ERS AND COMCAST SPORTSNET PRESENT 2008 BOOK DRIVE (March 28): When the Sixers take on Shaquille O’Neal and the Phoenix Suns, fans are encouraged to come out and donate a brand new hardcover children's book for which they will receive a coupon permitting them to attend a special post-game autograph session with Andre Iguodala and Jason Smith. All books donated will go to Philadelphia Reads.


The month of March’s activities will also include the annual Book Swaps during each home game. The Book Swaps will take following the National Anthem, where every Sixers player will hand a new book to a Philadelphia area children. Home games will also feature Concourse Reading Corners, where local celebrities will take time to read books to young Sixers fans during halftime.

Hip-Hop will be very busy during March as well making several stops at local schools throughout the greater Philadelphia area in celebration of Reading Month. So look for everyone’s favorite mascot to drop by a school near you with his action packed, Hip-Hop reading event!

Comcast-Spectacor (comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), the two arenas in which their teams play, the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, four Flyers Skate Zone community ice skating and hockey rinks and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. In addition, Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field with more than 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage service provider; New Era Tickets, a ticketing and marketing company for public assembly facilities; Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company; and 3601 Creative Group, a full-service in-house advertising agency. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.