While MLB superstars write their own stories on the field, Clayton Kershaw took some time off the field to read a story to a group of children.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation partnered with Kershaw’s Challenge six years ago to launch L.A. Reads, a joint literacy program designed to motivate youth to build a lifelong love of reading.
As the most recent part of the program, Kershaw traveled to the Downtown Central Library to read to 100 third and fourth graders. He read the book “Bigger Than Me,” which is written by Ann Higginboom — Ellen Kershaw’s sister — about Clayton’s son, Charley.
“I was a little nervous trying to read, but thankfully, Ellen was showing the pictures too,” Kershaw said. “But it’s just great, we’ve done this a few times now. …. It’s a great event. It’s always fun for me and the kids to get to come and do it.”
L.A. Reads offers engaging programs and educational resources throughout the year that support literacy and make reading fun for everyone. The program, which recently surpassed 5.3 million minutes “read” since its launch, has distributed over 25,000 books, and LADF has granted over $1.5 million to literacy-focused organizations over the last 10 years.
“Reading is obviously so important, something that I think at times we take for granted,” Kershaw said.
“So being able to start a foundation early, and just having kids, especially in the summers when they’re not in school, reading books instead of watching TV, things like that, are just really, really important to get to do for lifelong skills that you’re going to need.
“So it starts with reading, and we know that.”
After Kershaw finished the book, the kids were given the opportunity to ask him questions in a Q&A session. When the event was concluding, each child was given a copy of the book on their way out, handed to them by the Kershaw family, and they also received an L.A. Reads shirt.
Clayton Kershaw partners with Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
Kershaw said “Bigger Than Me” was a segue into his charity partnering with LADF, and getting to share a family book has been special for them.
“It definitely has significant meaning to us,” Kershaw said. “Ellen’s sister, this is not her first children’s book that she’s written, but she’s obviously super talented at it.
“So to have it through Charley’s perspective, it’s a little weird having Charley and I read the book about ourselves, but at the same time, it’s a really fun story and it gives baseball a bigger meaning, which is the goal.”
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