WWE®, YALSA, Comcast and Chicago Public Schools use WrestleMania® to promote Big Time Reading
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
YALSA
312-280-4387
ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release
February 28, 2006
WWE®, YALSA, Comcast and Chicago Public Schools use WrestleMania® to promote Big Time Reading
CHICAGO - World Wrestling Entertainment® (WWE)'s Get R.E.A.L. Read initiative, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), Comcast, and the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services have joined forces to launch a reading incentive program for Chicago teens around WWE's upcoming WrestleMania 22.
The top two winners from each participating Chicago high school will compete March 31, 2006 at Robert Morris College, for 16 pairs of WrestleMania tickets in the finals of the Big Time Reading Challenge. The participants will be asked questions about a book by young adult author Chris Crutcher. WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio® and Shelton Benjamin™ will join author Crutcher and YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley to emcee the event on March 31.
The top three finishers in the finals will receive a WWE gift packet and money for their school library in addition to their pair of WrestleMania tickets. The first place winner will receive $2,000 for his or her school's library, second place receives $1,500 and third place receives $1,000.
Holley stated, “YALSA has been fortunate to have the support of the WWE in several reading events. Helping teens understand that athletes enjoy reading, in addition to their professional activities, further highlights a goal of YALSA and its members, to encourage teens to read 'for the fun of it. I'm looking forward to attending the Big Time Reading Challenge.”
“WWE is very excited about participating in the Big Time Reading Challenge with YALSA, Comcast, and the Chicago Public Schools as part of our WrestleMania activities in the Chicago area,” said Gary Davis, WWE vice president, Corporate Communications. “We hope that our involvement in this initiative will encourage more high school students in Chicago to read more often.”
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at
wwe.com and
corporate.wwe.com. Information about Get R.E.A.L. Read and the Big Time Reading Challenge is located at
getreal.wwe.com.
For nearly 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. For more information contact the YALSA office, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail:
yalsa@ala.org.
The Chicago Public Schools is the nation's third-largest school district and the second-largest employer in Illinois, with more than 43,000 employees. The school system operates 600 schools and serves 426,000 students. The mission of the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services is to assist these schools in developing and enhancing quality library programs that impact teaching and learning and motivate student readers. For more information about the Department's programs and initiatives, visit its Web site at
www.oism.cps.k12.il.us/dept_libraries.shtml.
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.
