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"Wild About Reading" & Junior Grizzlies Programs reach new heights

Presenting sponsors EECU, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, PG&E and Save Mart Supermarkets help Fresno Grizzlies reading program reach over 100,000 students in 2015-2016
By
April 28, 2016

FRESNO, Calif. - Following a championship season on the field in 2015 for the Fresno Grizzlies, it was a banner year as well for the two largest programs operated by the Grizzlies Community Fund; "Wild About Reading" and the Junior Grizzlies.

Wild About Reading, which incentivizes students to read frequently beyond just their school curriculum, is wrapping up its 13th year of operation. Reaching elementary schools in five counties (Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare), the program has increased exponentially the total number of books read by area students by reaching at least 97,000 students each school year since 2012. During the 2015-2016 offseason, the program surpassed 100,000 participating students for the second time, and for the first time since 2013.  

Over 160 schools have been involved in the program the last three years - most holding a "kick-off assembly" featuring Grizzlies Mascot, Parker and Eddie the Owl from EECU. The other presenting sponsors of Wild About Reading are Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, PG&E and Save Mart Supermarkets.  

Since its beginnings in 2004, Wild About Reading has now reached over 878,000 students, with incentives that include:

  • Seven Wild About Reading Grizzlies games, with two (2) tickets for readers that participate in the program
  • Outstanding reader awards presented at games to four top students (nominated by teachers)
  • Five students participating in the program randomly win prizes at the Wild About Reading Games
  • Reading Heart, an official partner of Wild About Reading is giving one (1) FREE book to every student that successfully completes the challenge and reads enough to receive their free Grizzlies tickets.
  • The school with the highest ticket redemption percentage to the Wild About Reading games will win $500.

"It's now a yearly goal to reach 100,000 students through Wild About Reading, and each new student in the program gets us closer to one million all-time, which is our ultimate goal," said Grizzlies Community Fund Director Whitney Campbell. "Grizzlies baseball is a great incentive for being a big reader and a better student, but our main goal is to get kids reading outside of what they have to do for school."

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Balancing the academic with the recreational, the Junior Grizzlies program also continues to grow. Junior Grizzlies is a coed, noncompetitive, summer baseball league for people ages 4-60 who have disabilities. The program runs for nine weeks between March and June and regularly reaches over 175 individuals. The league consists of 10 teams.  

The Junior Grizzlies season includes a spring training jamboree, opening day ceremonies, eight weeks of games, a home run derby, and end-of-season awards banquet at Chukchansi Park and hats, shirts, pictures and trophies for every participant. Later in the summer, all Junior Grizzlies players are invited back to Chukchansi Park for a pre-game parade and a special Junior Grizzlies night.

All Junior Grizzlies games are played on an adaptive field known as the "Field of Dreams." Located at Gateway High School, as part of partnership with the Clovis Unified School District, the field is universally accessible. Costing approximately $500,000 to build, the field was made possible by the support of the Fansler Foundation, SC Johnson, and Saint Agnes Medical Center. A big thank you also goes out to Granite Construction, for donating time and materials in the construction of "Field of Dreams."

#Growlifornia

ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES

The 2015 National Champion Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League and are one of 30 teams in the world playing the highest level of Minor League Baseball. The 2015 season was one of historic proportions for the team and City of Fresno, as the Grizzlies secured their first-ever Pacific Coast League and Triple-A National Championships. Learn about 2016 ticket plans by calling the front office at 559.320.TIXS between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.