Hawks Reading Program presented by the KeyBank Foundation

The Boise Hawks and the KeyBank Foundation have partnered together to bring fans the Summer Reading Program in 2010. The goal of the program is to get kids excited to read, offer incentives for reading, and to show our support for literacy and reading in schools and libraries, as well as kid's participation in the Summer Reading Program.

With our organization and from the help of our players, mascot and staff we hope to add another element to the Summer Reading Program, and demonstrate for kids that going to school and participating in programs like this can help you go far in life and achieve high hopes and dreams. In 2009 the number of children registered for summer reading in Idaho was 63,300 a 38% increase over 2008. We hope to continually increase that number each year with the Boise Hawks involvement in the Summer Reading Program.

The KeyBank Foundation and Boise Hawks Summer Reading Program and Reading Tree will be part of the Treasure Valley Library Summer Reading Program. The Boise Hawks will distribute through the public library system close to 17,000 ticket vouchers to children as an incentive to complete the minimum reading requirements to receive the tickets. Each ticket voucher will be good for two (2) admissions to the Boise Hawks reserved seat section on Tuesday nights during the 2010 season. During the Boise Hawks 2010 Season, Tuesday nights will be referred to as "Library Voucher Redemption Night." Each Tuesday will feature the Boise Hawks "Reading Tree" in which a Hawks player will take the time prior to the game and join any child who wants to listen to him read a story. The player typically reads from approximately 6:40p-7:00p in the Kids Park.

Throughout the spring and summer the Boise Hawks secure community appearances for our team mascot, staff, and players to visit children in schools and local libraries to promote reading and the Summer Reading Program. The Summer Reading Program has strengthened school partnerships and as a result the libraries have seen a 51% increase in registration for the Summer Reading Program in 2009.

To request more information, or if you have questions on the Summer Reading Program please contact Kristen Nimmo, the Director of Marketing and Media Relations at [email protected] or 208-919-2257.