Terriers Visit Boston Public Schools for 20th Annual Holiday Reading Program
December 14, 2016 | General, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services
BOSTON - For the 20th consecutive year, Boston University student-athletes visited Boston Public Schools and read to school children through the annual Holiday Reading Program on Tuesday and Wednesday. The community event brought over 300 BU Terriers out into the community to interact with Boston Public School children.
In conjunction with BU's Government and Community Affairs Department, the athletes read to elementary school children and then presented each student with a book purchased by Boston University. In addition to each student receiving a book, each classroom was also given a book donated by BU for the teacher's permanent collection.
The two-day event, held this year on Dec. 13 and 14, took place at schools in Allston/Brighton, the South End, Dorchester, Chinatown, and as far away as East Boston.
"We are so appreciative to all of the BU student-athletes for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in the 20th Annual Holiday Reading Program," said Elizabeth Leary, director of community relations of BU's government and community affairs. "It's great to see BU student-athletes brighten the days of kids in the neighborhoods all across the city of Boston."
In all, the student-athletes visited 37 classrooms in eight schools and read to over 750 children throughout Boston, many of whose schools neighbor the Charles River and Medical campuses.
"The annual Holiday Reading program is a wonderful event for both our student-athletes and the schoolchildren we visit," said BU director of athletics Drew Marrochello. "It is important for us to serve as mentors and role models to Boston Public School students and we look forward to continuing these visits throughout the school year."
