Columbia Fireflies Announce Partnership with EdVenture Children's Museum to Promote Youth Literacy

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia Fireflies today announced a partnership with EdVenture Children's Museum to enhance the Fireflies Reading Program. The Fireflies Reading Program is launching in schools around the Midlands, helping promote reading and literacy by providing students incentives to read.

The Fireflies introduced the Reading Program this fall, and are encouraging the participation of school districts, schools and classrooms across the Midlands. Students sign up through their teachers or their school. They then earn prizes as they achieve different milestones along their journey through the program. Once the students have successfully 'read around the bases' and hit a home run with the program, he or she will receive a ticket to EdVenture Children's Museum, a ticket to a 2016 Fireflies game, a free meal at their game, and a special prize upon their arrival at Spirit Communications Park.

"Nothing is more important than the education of the youth in our community. We're thrilled to join forces with EdVenture to help promote literacy and reading across the Midlands," said Fireflies president John Katz. "Combining our resources, we're able to create a terrific reward system to encourage kids to read and achieve. The program provides motivation to help teachers and parents reinforce that reading can be fun and rewarding."

"We are delighted to join forces with the Fireflies to help encourage children to read," said Karen Coltrane, president and CEO of EdVenture. "Whenever we make learning fun, children embrace it. By combining their natural love of baseball and the children's museum along with reading, it will be a homerun for everyone."

"This new initiative further demonstrates what we have known all along, the Fireflies are invested in more than baseball," said Mayor Steve Benjamin. "They are invested in Columbia. This is a win for our children, a win for education and a win for the City."

Teachers, media specialists, and administrators can sign up their schools or their individual classes online at www.ColumbiaFireflies.com, or by contacting Kyle Williamson at 803.888.3011. Parents of children who would like their child's school or class to participate should request that their school register per above.

The Fireflies are currently taking reservations for Season Ticket packages, including Full Season (70 games), Half Season (35 games), Quarter Season (17 games) and Mini Season packages (12 games). For more information on season tickets and reserve your seats for the Inaugural Season of Columbia Fireflies baseball, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com, or call 803-726-HITS.

 

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About the Columbia Fireflies

The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. The Fireflies will play games across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team has partnered with the City of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Spirit Communications Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet development. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League, the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League and the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League. For more information visit www.ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter (@ColaFireflies), Facebook (facebook.com/columbiafireflies) and all popular social media sites.

About EdVenture Children's Museum

The mission of EdVenture is to inspire children to experience the joy of learning. EdVenture is a locally-managed, not-for-profit informal educational institution dedicated to lifelong learning through its 92,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor interactive exhibit space and in its educational outreach programs and after school programs. The museum has welcomed visitors from all 50 states and 18 foreign countries, creating shared experiences and memories for families learning together. For more information about EdVenture, visit www.edventure.org or call (803) 779-3100.