Avnet Cares volunteers recently helped kick off the "Read Your Way to the Ballpark" program through Avnet's partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The program encourages reading and literacy among students in local K-5 Title I schools.
This year, a team of 16 Avnet volunteers helped assemble and distribute teacher materials for the program, including posters, notepads, pencils, pins and game ticket vouchers. The materials were distributed to 398 classrooms, reaching nearly 10,000 students.
To officially launch the program, Avnet Cares volunteers joined Baxter, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, on 10 classroom visits throughout the community. During the visits, selected teachers received a $1,000 grant to purchase new books for their classrooms, helping expand access to reading materials for students.
On August 21, Avnet volunteers, including Vice President of Sales Steve Wagner, joined Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandyn Garcia at the Biltmore Preparatory Academy in Phoenix to surprise two 5th grade teachers with a $1,000 grant to support classroom literacy efforts.
The "Read Your Way to the Ballpark" program encourages students to develop strong reading habits while making learning fun and rewarding. Students who meet four reading goals set by their teachers can earn prizes from the Arizona Diamondbacks, including a ticket voucher.
Since launching in August 2023, the program has inspired 28,733 students to pick up a book and discover the power of reading. The program has reached 239 schools and 1,121 classrooms, creating learning opportunities for students across Arizona. Together, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Avnet have invested $30,000 in classroom libraries, while Avnet employees have contributed more than 580 volunteer hours in support of this meaningful cause. Through the combined efforts of educators, volunteers and community partners, the program continues to foster a love of reading and make a lasting impact on students and schools.
To learn more about the "Read Your Way to the Ballpark" program, click here.