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COMSTOCK PARK MI, – The Whitecaps Community Foundation is celebrating “March is Reading Month” in a big way this year, by donating 5,000 books to local Grand Rapids elementary schools. The book donations will benefit the students of 15 Grand Rapids Public Schools recommended for the program based on their needs and their potential for impacting as large a student group as possible.
The Whitecaps Community Foundation started their book donation program two years ago when 300 books were donated to one school in need and since then the program has blossomed. Each school receiving books will host an assembly recognizing the importance of reading where the books will be distributed to students. Two of the donations will occur in April where West Michigan Whitecaps players will be on hand to help distribute books. Those are April 11 at Ridgemoor Park Montessori and on April 19 at Sherwood Park Global Studies Academy. Both of those are scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.
The book donations are a key part of the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s Reading Program, which helps area school children enjoy Whitecaps baseball while promoting reading and literacy. Kids who read 15 minutes a day, during the month of March, can attend a Whitecaps game for free in April, May or June. The Whitecaps Community Foundation provides participating schools with all support materials, such as reading tracking calendars and posters, at no cost. Last year’s Reading Program had more than 67,000 K-6 children participate from over 260 West Michigan schools. Nearly 16,000 complimentary tickets were donated to students who completed the challenge.
The Whitecaps Community Foundation, the nonprofit extension of the West Michigan Whitecaps, is a 501c3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families by providing them with access to social, educational and recreational programs that will have a positive impact on their futures. With the help and generosity of community partners and members, the Whitecaps Community Foundation continues to strive to make the West Michigan area a better place to grow, learn, and thrive.
In 2017, through a combination of donations and fundraising efforts, the Whitecaps Community Foundation gave more than $530,000 to local children and their families. For details on the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s programs and how to participate in the Reading Program please visit us at www.whitecapscommunityfoundation.org or call the Whitecaps front office at 616.784.4131.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.