FANatic About Reading Night Makes Its Return
July 23, 2021 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - Every year, as the college academic year ends and June rolls around, the Newport Gulls players head back into the classroom, except, it's into the elementary schools. For over ten years now across Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport, the People's Credit Union FANatic About Reading Program has placed Gulls players in local classrooms, reading and interacting with students and encouraging them to read more throughout the summer.
"One of the Gulls signature programs each year is the FANatic About Reading Program through support of People's Credit Union," said Gulls General Manager Chuck Paiva.
FANatic About Reading Night was founded through the Newport Gulls' and People's Credit Union's desire to support young children in education. Janice Sullivan, a long-time Gulls volunteer, was influential in launching the program with People's back in 2010 and it has made a positive impact for both Gulls players and young students ever since.
Paiva added, "We know our players are outstanding role models because they have had success in the classroom as student-athletes."
After the hiatus of the 2020 NECBL season, the program restarted for 2021. The Gulls roster has traveled to schools such as Melville Elementary School, Pell Elementary School, Hathaway School, and Portsmouth Middle School. During the reading session, each player is assigned to a specific classroom, reads a picture book to the classroom, and interacts with the students. This year, visits were both in-person and virtual.
"Although we love giving back through donations, college and summer camp scholarships, cash contributions, and memorabilia for silent auctions," Paiva noted, "the reading program experience is special. We are so fortunate to be affecting the youth of Newport County, and allowing a relationship and the chance to connect with our players."
Each student can receive a free game ticket to the FANatic About Reading Night if they complete four books and have their parent or guardian initial the Newport Gulls bookmarks, which have been issued to every school within the program. Since 2010, hundreds of students have been rewarded and honored for their work in a pregame ceremony on Cardines Field.
This year, the FANatic About Reading program will wrap up on Monday, July 26, as the Gulls look set to face the Mystic Schooners in an important race for positioning in the playoffs. The gates to Cardines Field open at 5:00 for a 6:35 first pitch. Everyone in attendance will receive free PCU Fan Gifts courtesy of People's Credit Union.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 23, 2021
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- FANatic About Reading Night Makes Its Return - Newport Gulls
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