United for D.C., the non-profit arm of D.C. United, announced details of the annual United Reads Reading Challenge on Thursday. Six local United Reads schools, Birney Elementary School (Ward 8), Howard Road Academy (Ward 8), Payne Elementary School (Ward 6), Smothers Elementary School (Ward 7), Savoy Elementary (Ward 8), and Ketcham Elementary (Ward 8), will participate in the program. The first of many scheduled player visits in support of the United Reads Reading Challenge will take place at Birney Elementary School, when Marc Burch and Jeremy Barlow visit on Thursday, May 1, and Smothers Elementary School with Jeff and Pat Carroll visiting on Friday, May 2.
"United Reads is a great way to promote the importance and fun of reading," said United for D.C. Executive Director Sara Peterson. "The students love interacting with the players, and the program helps to build the students' at home library."
Over the next three weeks, United for D.C. and D.C. United players will visit the United Reads participating schools to encourage the students to read at least 90 minutes outside of the classroom each week for three weeks. The students who participate and read the most will be recognized at the second visits at the end of the school year. At the first visit each student will receive three new books, a reading log to record their time as well as a reading journal from Barnes & Noble which will allow any student that reads eight books over the course of the summer to receive a free book from a local store.
The Heart of America Foundation is the book provider and partner for the program. At each visit D.C. United players will interact with one or two grades in the library or auditorium of each school. They will read to the students and discuss the importance and fun side of reading.
| School schedule | ||
| School | Reading Challenge Launch | Reading Challenge Assembly |
| Birney | May 1, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | May 28, 2008 |
| Smothers | May 2, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | June 5, 2008 |
| Payne | May 9, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | June 3, 2008 |
| Howard Road | May 13, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | June 11, 2008 |
| Savoy | May 6, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | May 27, 2008 |
| Ketcham | May 7, 1:45-3:15 p.m. | May 23, 2008 |
United for D.C.
United for D.C., Inc. was founded on January 8, 2002 as the charitable arm of Major League Soccer's D.C. United. United for D.C. is a 501(c) 3 organization chartered to serve the Washington, D.C. community through the creation or support of programs, events and organizations that advance educational and social welfare opportunities (primarily health and recreational) for the area's youth, particularly those who may be economically, physically or mentally disadvantaged.
