The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation announced the extension of the Dodgers Reading Champions Challenge, part of their joint literacy initiative, LA Reads, to offer continued support for distance learning during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Teachers, students and families can continue to sign up at dodgers.com/lareads through the end of October to track daily reading. Over 8,000 youth have combined to log over one million minutes read through the Dodgers Reading Champions Challenge this year. 

As part of their continued commitment to support distance learning, the Dodgers and LADF partnered with Pathways LA to host an LA Reads Together virtual literacy workshop today for 3rd-5th grade students that are children of essential workers. Pathways LA strengthens low-income and vulnerable working families, promotes high-quality early care and education services for children of all abilities, develops knowledgeable early-care providers and promotes economically resilient communities.

“LA Reads was created to be a resource for all Angelenos, and we’re proud to have helped inspire thousands of students to reach one million minutes read, especially with the challenges of distance learning,” said Naomi Rodriguez, Dodger vice president of external affairs and community relations. “Supporting our essential workers and their families has been an important part of our COVID relief efforts, and it’s imperative that we continue to provide resources like today’s literacy workshop to make sure that all students – regardless of background – continue to thrive.”

LADF also awarded $25,000 to the Library Foundation of Los Angeles aimed at impacting a total of 75,000 people, including 55,000 children and teens, through ongoing virtual literacy programming, including a Winter Reading Challenge and Grab-and-Go Lunch & Programming, which delivers lunch and at-home activities for families with school-aged children.

“Through our COVID-19 grantee needs assessment, we learned that youth may not have the tools to engage with distance learning as the pandemic further magnifies income inequality,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of LADF. “With the help of nonprofit partners, LA Reads provides vital resources in communities that need support the most – paving the way for young people to excel in school and beyond.”

LA Reads was created in 2017 to help address the literacy crisis in Los Angeles by getting children excited about reading. The program involves Dodger players, coaches, executives and alumni reading to children and rewards students, in grades 1st through 8th, who participate in the Dodgers Reading Champions challenge and read more than 30 minutes per day. 

For information, visit dodgers.com/ladf.