The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Los Angeles Dodgers, in partnership with Andrew and Robin Friedman, hosted its second Storytime of the year on May 14, as part of the ninth annual L.A. Reads program. Max Muncy was in attendance as well to read to school children and pass out books.
Muncy read to more than 70 second-grade students at Gabriella Charter School, which is located just minutes away from Dodger Stadium.
“For me, something that I didn’t realize until I got older is how much education can help you out in terms of things like sports, athletics, and just giving you opportunities,” Muncy said. “Just focusing on education can open up so many doors for you in every avenue of life and understanding that now I want to make sure I pass that on to as many kids as I can.”
The Friedmans joined LADF to award a $14,000 grant to Gabriella Charter Schools to support the transformation of their existing gardens at their two campuses into Dodgers Foundation Community Reading Gardens.
“The L.A. Reads program has made such an impact around this city over the years, and so any chance to be a part of it, see the impact, see the look on the kids’ faces, it really helps put everything in perspective of what we do,” Friedman said.
Additionally, they donated 880 brand new books for the schools and each student was able to take a book home.
The investment helps create vibrant, literacy-rich outdoor spaces, provide new books for students, support parent literacy training, and strengthen peer mentorship through the schools’ Reading Buddy Program. The grant will allow Gabriella Charter Schools to expand their efforts across both campuses.
“On this school and on this city, we have a significant impact,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman said. “And today when you just narrow it down to literacy, the joy of reading is what we were here about today. So for kids who may not be reading on a certain level or may not be as excited about reading, Max probably changed that for them today.”
What is Dodgers Foundation L.A. Reads program?
Max Muncy & Andrew Friedman is an LADF initiative that tackles Los Angeles’ literacy crisis and inspires kids to develop a lifelong love of reading.
Parents and educators can sign children up for the Dodgers Reading Champions Program by visiting Dodgers.com/LAReads. The program tracks reading among K–8 students and rewards those who log more than 30 minutes of reading per day.
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