On February 19, Warriors rookie guard Justin Holiday teamed up with Warriors Hype Man Franco Finn, the Warriors dance team and Ross Stores to host a Read to Achieve Reading Rally at Rocketship Mosaic Elementary School in San Jose. Holiday greeted the 300 elementary school students with high-fives and an explanation of why reading is an activity and skill that will pay dividends in their lives.
“If you can start reaching for a book early in your life and find a story that you want to read again and again, your brain will thank you for it later on,” said Holiday.
The Warriors reserve then joined Finn for a Q&A, as he shared with the student Rocketeers his earliest memories reading as a youth and how his love of reading aids him in his current profession.
“Reading Rainbow Fish and Clifford The Big Red Dog when I was five or six years old, you never think that it is the same thing you will do when you’re learning how to play the San Antonio Spurs,” said Holiday. “As a basketball player, I have to read every day about how I can be better on the court and learn about the players I am up against.”
Holiday and Finn then read the children’s story Corduroy and Rainbow Fish to the assembled students, with Rocketship Mosaic’s Star Students joining the two on stage to read pages from the stories aloud. After each book, the students were asked questions related to the storyline as a way to win autographed Warriors prizes.
“It was an amazing experience to have Justin read to the students and invest our students in the power of reading,” said Rocketship Mosaic Elementary Principal Danny Etcheverry. “We’re so thankful to Ross Stores for putting this event together and making it memorable for the students.”
Holiday, the Warriors and Ross Stores concluded the Read to Achieve Reading Rally by reciting the Read to Achieve pledge, affirming their commitment to reading and learning every day. Each student at Rocketship Mosaic Elementary also received a new book and pencil pouch, courtesy of Ross Stores.
“Ross believes that youth literacy is a top priority in our communities. Having great players and coaches join the Read to Achieve program this season has been a great way to energize local literacy programs,” said Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Leslie Oestreicher. “Our partnership with the Warriors allows us to build excitement for literacy and invites students to enjoy reading.”
Earlier this season, Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr and Assistant Coach Luke Walton joined NBC Bay Area Traffic Anchor Mike Inouye and Ross Stores to host a Read to Achieve Reading Rally at San Francisco’s Longfellow Elementary School as part of the Back to School in the Bay education initiative. On Monday, January 19, the Warriors also hosted Read to Achieve Day, presented by Ross Stores, at Oracle Arena on MLK Day before the Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets, 122-79.