On Monday, November 17 the Washington Wizards Etan Thomas hosted a Reading-Timeout with elementary students from Howard Road Academy. The Reading Time-Out was an opportunity for Etan Thomas to read to the students while also teaching them life lessons.

"It was a phenomenal experience," said Nicole Richardson, Principal of Howard Road Academy. "The students were very excited to come, and to be chosen to participate as one of the schools in the program was an honor. Especially for these kids."

The students, 3rd through 6th graders, began the day by taking a bus over to Verizon Center and were entertained by Wizards' mascot G-Wiz, prior to meeting Thomas. As usual, G-Wiz was a big hit with the students as he performed a magic show and showed off several tricks that got "oohs" and "ahhs" from the crowd.

Following the magic show, Etan Thomas came into the room and read to the children several passages of "Dreams From My Father" a book by President-elect Barack Obama. In the passages, Thomas was able to relate to the group of students several important messages including the importance of working together towards a positive goal.

"Speaking to young people is a passion of mine. I have the chance to bounce ideas off of them and I get to make them think. It also is a chance for me to hear what they feel. It was great. It's what I love to do."

The chance to work with and influence youngsters is something that Thomas takes a lot of pride in and with good reason. As a youngster, Thomas attended an event similar to today's Reading Time-Out that had a significant impact on his life growing up.

"I remember when I was young and I remember when Wayman Tisdale came to my school and I listened to every single word that he said. It had a great impact on me. I listened, I really listened to what he said. He came from the same middle school and high school that I went to and he was playing ball in the NBA and I just looked up to him. So when he was telling me the same thing I was hearing from the adults in my life, the teachers and my parents, it was just reinforcing it from a different perspective."

The Reading Time-Out is part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program and Wizards Care, the community service program of the Washington Wizards. One of the main principles of the Wizards Care program is to provide assistance to the youth in the Metropolitan D.C. area.