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Rawhide Announce Enhanced Rawhide Readers Program

Program to Reward Local Children for Reading with Free Baseball
March 7, 2018

VISALIA, CA - This summer Central Valley youths will find that reading is not only good for the soul, but also for free baseball tickets. The Visalia Rawhide announced today they are re-branding their childhood literacy program as Rawhide Readers. The program, which had been previously known as "Tipper's Reading

VISALIA, CA - This summer Central Valley youths will find that reading is not only good for the soul, but also for free baseball tickets. The Visalia Rawhide announced today they are re-branding their childhood literacy program as Rawhide Readers. The program, which had been previously known as "Tipper's Reading Club", encourages Elementary and Middle School aged children to read in their spare time by rewarding them with free Rawhide tickets when they have completed five books.

Rawhide Readers expands upon "Tipper's Reading Club" by including literacy-based entities other than schools, such as libraries and local business partners in the community that want to encourage children to read.
"We believe that Rawhide Readers is a huge step forward for the Rawhide and for childhood literacy," said Rawhide General Manager Jennifer (Pendergraft) Reynolds. "Since this franchise re-branded as the Rawhide ten years ago, we have made it a part of our mission to aid the Visalia Unified School District and Tulare County Office of Education in addressing childhood literacy issues locally. This is the next step in our mission to get all of our local kids reading and loving baseball."
The Rawhide visited over 40 schools in 2017 and distributed over 40,000 bookmarks to local Elementary and Middle School aged youth, all of which served as a voucher for tickets to one of five Reading Days at Rawhide Ballpark. This season, the Rawhide hope to distribute 100,000 Rawhide Readers bookmarks at additional distribution locations including Tulare County EECU branches and local McDonald's stores. The bookmarks also include a coupon for a free Happy Meal.
Once a child reads five books and has their teacher sign off on the back of the Rawhide Readers bookmark, the bookmark becomes valid for four free tickets to any of the 2018 Reading Days, which will be held on April 10, May 8, July 18, July 31, and August 12. Each Reading Day will be paired with the giveaway of a free book to the first 200 Rawhide Readers to enter the gates that night.
The class that turns in the most bookmarks as a percentage of their class size will win a free class party courtesy of Max's Cookie Company.
The Rawhide wish to thank the Educational Employees Credit Union, RLMK Enterprises, and Wells Fargo for their sponsorship of the Rawhide Readers program. Additionally, the Rawhide thank First Five of Tulare County, Allstate Agent Rick Kunkleman, Visalia Sunset Rotary, the Kiwanis Club of Visalia-Sequoia, and the Visalia County Center Rotary for their sponsorship of book giveaways on Reading Days.
Any business or entities that would like to have Rawhide Reader Bookmarks available may contact Rawhide Community Relations Manager Micolette Pena by email at [email protected] or by phone at (559) 732-4433 extension 3.
The Rawhide will open their season on at home April 5th against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. For tickets and more information, please visit RawhideBaseball.com.

The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League and are the only professional sports team in Tulare and Kings counties. The team has been an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007 and is entering their 72nd year of play in 2018. The Rawhide renovated their home at Recreation Ballpark in 2009 and have since become the largest gathering of individuals in Tulare County, having set an attendance record for the seventh time in the past eight season in 2017. In 2018, the Rawhide look to continue their reputation for hosting competitive baseball while providing affordable family entertainment. To be a part of the 2018 Visalia Rawhide season, please contact the Visalia Rawhide Ticket Office at 559.732.4433, visit us online at rawhidebaseball.com, or follow us on Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@VisaliaRawhide), and Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide).