SALT LAKE CITY (January 13, 2016) – The Utah Jazz will begin the 18th annual “Be A Team Player – Read!” contest on Friday, Jan. 15. The month-long program challenges elementary school students to read outside of the classroom and chart their minutes. The 10 schools that log the most minutes read per student will each receive a visit from a Utah Jazz player, along with a party for the entire student body.
“The Jazz organization is proud to offer the ‘Be A Team Player – Read!’ program to local elementary schools,” said Randy Rigby, Utah Jazz president. “Reading is one of the most important skills a child will utilize in life; it’s not confined only to the classroom. We want to encourage youth to develop a life-long love of reading.”
Thirty-seven Wasatch Front elementary schools have signed up to participate in this year’s contest and received a Utah Jazz poster to track minutes read and age-appropriate books autographed by Jazz players to be used as reading incentives. The competition encourages students to develop a life-long love of reading, while emphasizing the importance of literacy and the value of teamwork.
“Be A Team Player – Read!” concludes on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Utah Jazz players will visit the top 10 schools on Wednesday, Feb. 24, which will feature a reading assembly, followed by a Q & A session with the players.
Last season, more than 23,500 students from 46 elementary schools participated in the program and read a combined total of 13,180,950 minutes. “Be A Team Player – Read!” is made possible by Scholastic Book Fairs, Russell’s Ice Cream, Med One Capital, Dairy Council of Utah & Nevada and Papa John’s Pizza and is part of the Utah Jazz organization’s ongoing efforts to support youth development and education.
About the Utah Jazz
Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the third-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won eight division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 14 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Away from the court, the Jazz are very active in the local community and have assisted a multitude of organizations and worthy causes by way of charitable donations, service and grants through Larry H. Miller Charities. The Utah Jazz also operate the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 50,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across seven states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, visit www.utahjazz.com.
–@JazzDoingGood or utahjazz.com–
