Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith Join LADF Charity in Book Giveaway

For the seventh season in a row, the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation are hosting “LA Reads,” which is a joint literacy program designed to motivate youth to build a lifelong love of reading with engaging programs and educational resources throughout the year.

Here’s more on what LA Reads is all about.

The LA Reads program consists of Storytimes and book giveaways with Dodger players, coaches, broadcasters, and alumni, the Dodgers Reading Champions challenge, which incentivizes youth participants ages 5 through 14 to read 30 minutes or more per day, partnerships with libraries and literacy nonprofits, and Literacy Corners which are renovated and refurbished after-school centers and libraries with new furniture, paint, flooring, and stocked age-appropriate bookshelves. The program recently surpassed five million minutes “read” since its launch, has distributed nearly 20,000 books, and LADF has granted over $1.4 million to literacy focused organizations over the last 10 years.

To kick off this year’s festivities, Will Smith will host the first of 16 storytime readings on Tuesday, August 1st, and Clayton Kershaw will follow him on Wednesday, August 2nd. Both reading events will be attended by youth participating in nearby summer recreation programs.

For more information or to register for Dodgers Reading Champions, visit dodgers.com/lareads.

Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports