World Wrestling Entertainment® SmackDown!® Superstar Rey Mysterio® is the spokesperson for Teen Read Week
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
YALSA Program Officer
312-280-4387
ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release
September 12, 2005
World Wrestling Entertainment
® SmackDown!® Superstar Rey Mysterio
® is the spokesperson for Teen Read Week
CHICAGO - Rey Mysterio, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) SmackDown! Superstar, will serve as spokesperson for Teen Read Week, October 16 to 22. Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative to encourage teens to take time to ‘read for the fun of it.' This year's theme is “Get Real! @ your library
®.”
Throughout the week, library and school events nationwide will encourage teens to explore the world of nonfiction books, such as biographies, self-help books, strange-but-true stories and more. Teens also can vote for their favorite books during Teen Read Week by logging online and checking out recommendations from the Teens Top Ten:
www.ala.org/teenstopten.
Since its inception in 1998, Teen Read Week has focused on the importance of teen recreational reading. Teen Read Week's objectives are to give teens an opportunity to read for the fun of it, allow teens to select their own reading materials and to help teens get in the habit of reading regularly and often.
As a spokesperson for Teen Read Week, Rey Mysterio recognizes the importance of reading. “Reading helps me be more creative, it helps my imagination and I like the fact that it gives me some quiet time." Some of Rey's favorite books are the Bible, “Harry Potter,” and “The Cat in the Hat. ”
Rey Mysterio isn't just a supporter of Teen Read Week, he also has been involved with WWE's ongoing literacy campaign called Get R.E.A.L. Read. The campaign promotes reading and the core values respect, education, achievement and leadership through Superstar visits to schools and libraries.
Exploding onto the national sports entertainment scene in the mid 1990s, the colorfully masked Rey Mysterio quickly redefined the way the game was played in the ring. From his awe-inspiring West Coast Pop™ to his trademark finisher, 619™, Mysterio is a definitive high-flying Superstar that fans of all ages have grown to respect and love.
“I've often said that the most interesting people also are readers and Rey Mysterio exemplifies that concept. All of us in YALSA are pleased that Rey Mysterio is a spokesperson for Teen Read Week; he understands how quiet reading can be the perfect relaxer for teens or anyone, whether it comes after a night of wrestling or after a couple hours cramming for an exam,” said YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. can be found online at
http://corporate.wwe.com and information about their Get R.E.A.L. program is located at:
http://getreal.wwe.com. Parents interested in learning more about World Wrestling Entertainment television programming can log on to
http://corporate.wwe.com/parents/overview.
YALSA is the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA).
For more information about Teen Read Week and recommended reading, please visit the Web at
www.ala.org/teenread.
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks, which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
