Greenville Drive, Michelin see record reading year

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More than 40,000 students, a record, qualified as “all stars” during the 12th annual Reading All-Stars program, sponsored by the Greenville Drive and Michelin North America. The community engagement event “promotes the importance of reading to students across the Upstate using baseball, fun and player mentoring,” according to a news release.

The program started in 2008 with Greenville County schools. It has since expanded to include schools and libraries in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens counties, with a record 153 elementary and middle schools participating this year, the release said.

“Because education is one of the most critical factors in ensuring future success of individuals and communities, it is central in Michelin’s outreach efforts,” Leesa Owens, director of government and community relations for Michelin North America, said in the release. “The Reading All-Stars program is a way to emphasize the importance of reading and literacy in a fun, engaging and a family-friendly way. We are proud to partner with The Drive each year to make a profound and positive impact on the lives of area children.”

To date, more than 800,000 area students have participated in the Reading All-Stars program, with more than 200,000 students officially qualifying as Reading All-Stars, earning a complimentary ticket to a special celebration Drive game, a book from Public Education Partners, a Reading All-Stars shirt or cap and the opportunity to participate in either a pregame parade or a meet-and-greet with Drive players at Fluor Field, according to the release.

“The Drive has always been committed to being an active and involved community partner, and the Reading All-Stars program has become our best example of this commitment, with hundreds of thousands of Upstate youth participating,” Drive owner and President Craig Brown said in the release. “We are thrilled to know that our efforts, working alongside Michelin, have helped instill a love of reading and enhance literacy skills for so many children over the years, and we look forward to continuing to grow the Reading All Stars program for years to come.”