Updated at 1:05 p.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007
L.A. Lakers events benefit Boys & Girls Club on Oahu
Advertiser Staff
The Los Angeles Lakers, who will be in Honolulu in October for their training camp and two exhibition games, have planned activities to promote literacy among Hawaii's youth through the team's Lakers Youth Foundation and its Read to Achieve program.The Lakers, through their Lakers Youth Foundation, will dedicate a Lakers Reading Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii's Hale Pono Clubhouse (91-884 Fort Weaver Road, Ewa Beach) on Tuesday, Oct. 9. As part of the team's Read to Achieve program, the room will provide club members with a safe learning environment dedicated to reading and access of books.
This is the team's second Lakers Reading Room in Hawaii and ninth overall.
The first Lakers Reading Room on Oahu was dedicated at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii's Spalding Clubhouse during the team's last visit in 2005.
Other Activities and events include:
i Barnes and Nobles Ala Moana Book Drive, through Saturday, Oct. 6
The Barnes and Nobles Ala Moana bookstore will donate a percent of their book sales from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 to support the Lakers Reading Rooms at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.
i Laker Girls Book Sales Rally at Barnes & Nobles Ala Moana, 1:30–3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
The Laker Girls will make an appearance for autographs and pictures at the Barnes & Nobles Ala Moana bookstore to promote the book drive sale for Lakers Reading Rooms at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii by thanking fans for their support. A percentage of all book sales will be donated to support the Lakers Reading Rooms.
i Book Drives and Raffle Ticket Fundraisers at Lakers Exhibition Games, Monday and Wednesday, Oct. 9 and 11
Book drives will be held at the Lakers' preseason games at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Stan Sheriff Center to benefit the two Lakers Reading Rooms at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.
All fans attending the games are encouraged to bring a new children's book to support the Lakers' Read to Achieve program. Fans who donate a book will receive an official 2007-08 Lakers pin while supplies last. Attendees are also encouraged to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win Lakers autographed prizes. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the games for $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets. Proceeds from the raffle tickets will support the Lakers Reading Rooms.
i The Lakers have once again partnered with the Honolulu Advertiser's NIE program to conduct a reading challenge open to Oahu's students in third through eighth grades. Since 2001, students have read for the opportunity to win a Reading Time Out with a Lakers player and tickets to attend a Lakers game.
From Sept. 12 through Sept. 25, students in grades 3 to 8 were asked to document the number of minutes they spent reading outside of class. The class with the highest average number of minutes read will enjoy a private read-aloud session with a Lakers player before watching the Lakers play in an exhibition basketball game set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Stan Sheriff Center. The team will also be distributing a Lakers prize to the first 3,000 students who read 30 minutes or more each day during the 14-day period.
"The people of Hawaii have always shown the Lakers tremendous support, and we are honored to be able to give back to the community by providing positive educational opportunities that will enrich the lives of local youth," said Eugenia Chow, Lakers Director of Community Relations, in a statement. "We are excited to continue our Read to Achieve Program and further promote literacy by creating our second Lakers Reading Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii."
