Read to Achieve
The NBA Read to Achieve program is designed to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. The Boston Celtics' Read to Achieve program consists of a variety of events including player appearances, school visits, book drives and the establishment of reading corners and learning centers.
In October of 2004, the Celtics began working with the National Braille Press to help supply blind children with reading materials. Over the past four years, players, coaches, media and members of the Celtics All-Star Reading Team reach out to more than 14,000 children at 45 local schools, while donating 13,000 books.
Working in partnership with the ReadBoston program, the Celtics are proud to present the Read to Achieve program to local students. Each year students in the ReadBoston program track the amount of time they read during the month. Students who reach their reading goals receive a special Read to Achieve prize. As an added incentive, the Celtics also host a monthly read-aloud event at a participating school with various members of the All-Star Reading Team.
The Boston Celtics have also opened two Reading and Learning Centers in Massachusetts. In May of 2002, the first Reading and Learning Center was opened at the YWCA of Greater Lawrence. The second was opened in November of 2003 at the Roxbury YMCA.
Recent Headlines
March 5, 2012 - Hale School
JaJuan Johnson and Greg Stiemsma read with students at the team's practice facility in Waltham.
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February 6, 2012 - Winthrop Elementary School
Four Celtics players join 30 students at the Sports Museum of New England.
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January 19, 2012 - J.F. Kennedy Elementary School
Keyon Dooling and JaJuan Johnson participate in a play with students.
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November 16, 2011 - Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy
Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy welcomed Celtics legend JoJo White, Team President Rich Gotham, Lucky and 30 other Celtics staff members Wednesday afternoon for their Read To Achieve event.
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March 15, 2011
West, Wafer Join Students in Lesson on Japan
February 8, 2011
Harangody, Bradley Read With After School Program Students
January 20, 2011
Pierce, West Join Students in Play at RTA event
December 17, 2010
Perkins Joins Students at Read to Achieve Event
October 8, 2010
Celtic and Local Students "Paint the City Green"
March 29, 2010
Celtics visit Perkins School for the Blind for Read to Achieve program
March 26, 2010
Celtics host Stay in School assembly at Edwards Middle School
February 26, 2010
Celtics players shot PRIDE off the court at school assembly
February 25, 2010
Celtics players read with children as part of Read to Achieve program
January 26, 2010
Boston Celtics perform play with Madison Park students
January 26, 2010
Celtics recognize high-achieving students
December 16, 2009
Celtics Host a Special Holiday-Themed Reading Event
November 11, 2009
Celtics Host Reading Event Featuring Educational Animal Show
September 22, 2009
Rasheed Wallace Welcomed to Boston with a Special Reading Event on a Duck Boat
April 1, 2009
Boston Celtics Host a Special Read to Achieve with Students from Perkins School for the Blind
January 23, 2007
Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo and Allan Ray Team Up with South End Students to Perform a Special Read to Achieve Play
December 18, 2006
Boston Celtics Kendrick Perkins and Brian Scalabrine Read from The Boston Celtics Hero Book with Students from the Murphy School
November 21, 2006
Boston Celtics Host a Special Read to Achieve Event and Historic Trolley Tour with Charlestown Students
March 9, 2006
Boston Celtics Host Special Read to Achieve Event at New England Eye Center as part of Vision Awareness Week
January 19, 2006
Boston Celtics' Tony Allen and Raef LaFrentz Read "Curious George" with Students from East Zone Early Learning Center
November 17, 2005
Boston Celtics' Delonte West, Brian Scalabrine and Assistant Coach Tony Brown Host Special Read to Achieve Event at Boston Children's Museum
October 17, 2005
C's Visit Children's Hospital to Tape Special Reading PSA
April 7, 2005
Celtics Bring Read to Achieve Program to Farragut Elementary School to Stress Importance of Reading
March 8, 2005
Celtics Bring Read to Achieve Program to Roslindale to Stress Importance of Reading
January 13, 2005
Boston Celtics Rookie Al Jefferson and Forward Walter McCarty Read with Students at Tobin Elementary School
November 16, 2004
Boston Celtics Teammates Paul Pierce and Jiri Welsch Read with Students at Samuel W. Mason Elementary School
October 21, 2004
Boston Celtics Film Read to Achieve PSA with Students from Perkins School for the Blind
