FastBreak Foundation Kicks off Read to Achieve Month

After a successful Black History Month campaign, the Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation is turning a page in its service efforts, focusing in March on organizations and events that work to encourage Minnesota youth to read. Read to Achieve Month, presented by American Family Insurance and KARE 11, is highlighted by a staff-wide effort on the part of all Timberwolves employees to commit over 120 hours to reading to children this month, with the goal of reaching over 3,000 students. Read to Achieve Month will also feature a $10,000 grant presentation and additional reading events both in-game and throughout the community.

"The Timberwolves, along with American Family Insurance and KARE 11, are excited to once again team up in an effort to promote reading, literacy and education to Minnesota's youth," Timberwolves President Chris Wright said. "This month-long effort is a special opportunity for our entire organization to join the players and coaches in spreading the joy of reading."

Read to Achieve Month will tip off today when the FastBreak Foundation presents Blind, Inc. with a $10,000 grant during the Wolves game vs. Seattle (5:30 p.m. at Target Center). Blind, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works to teach students to read Braille and provides educational materials in Braille.

Throughout the month of March, Timberwolves and Lynx staff members will volunteer at local elementary schools to read to children. The goal of the campaign is to commit 120 volunteer hours to the program while reaching over 3,000 students. Each classroom the Wolves visit will receive a game-worn shoe from a Timberwolves player along with various other prizes.

In addition to the staff reading initiative, Wolves players and broadcasters will also be in the community this month reading to children, beginning with a Latino Reading Timeout and Basketball Clinic at Target Center on Monday, March 3 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Mark Madsen and La Mera Buena broadcaster Alfonso Fernandez will read a book in Spanish to students from Academia Cesar Chavez School in St. Paul before conducting a basketball clinic for the children on the Target Center court. Also on the March schedule is a Reading Timeout Bash at Minneapolis' Jefferson Elementary School, hosted by Wolves guard Rashad McCants.

Finally, the FastBreak Foundation has designated March 22 and March 30 as Read to Achieve nights, when the Timberwolves will welcome thousands of young readers to Target Center for the Wolves' games vs. New York and Utah. All students that participated in the Wolves' Starting Five reading incentive program received tickets to one of these games in their prize package, and the top-three overall readers in terms of pages read will be recognized in a special on-court presentation.

Read to Achieve is the Timberwolves' and the NBA's year-round literacy program that helps young people develop a lifelong love of reading, and encourages adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year. Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.

The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation strives to provide and support hands-on programs that positively impact Minnesota youth. Through giving, education and basketball opportunities, the Foundation enables young people to make responsible decisions, contribute to their futures and create lifelong memories.