MTA and the Boston Red Sox Promote Literacy with Summer Reading Contest

The MTA Red Sox Reading Game season is under way!

cutout poster

The game, now in its eighth year, has become the Massachusetts Teachers Association's most successful literacy initiative. Thousands of public school teachers across the state use the campaign as part of their curriculum and to encourage increased reading over the summer, when reading skills traditionally slip.

More than 30,000 students pledged to read over 180,000 books over the summer as part of the 2006 edition of the MTA Red Sox Reading Game.

Funding for the campaign is provided through a grant from Hanover Insurance Group and contributions from the WEEI 850 Sports Radio Network, NESN, The Boston Globe, MTA and MTA Benefits.

Summer Reading Campaign Components:

•  Kids who pledge to read nine books, one for each position on the baseball field, are entered into a drawing for prizes.

•  Posters showing Red Sox catcher JasonVaritek, the contest spokesman, and the logos of sponsors are distributed to MTA K-8 schools.

•  Thousands of “reading box score bookmarks” and entry forms are sent to schools. Kids can also enter the contest on-line.

•  Student winners and their teachers are awarded pairs of tickets to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

•  Five grand prize winners receive tickets, $100 gift cards and baseballs autographed by Jason Varitek . The grand prize winners also participate in a pre-game reception and an on-the-field recognition ceremony. Local recognition events are held in the five communities where the grand prize winners reside.

•  NESN airs public service announcements promoting the importance of literacy while the contest is going on.

•  Two full-page newspaper advertisements appear in The Boston Globe, and the contest is promoted in MTA publications that reach more than 100,000 members throughout the state.

For other tips and ideas see Reading Resources.

SPONSORS