AboutUS By Hotspotorlando #29 | Page 71

Orlando Magic Players Maurice Harkless and E’Twaun Moore Joined the Magic and Florida Blue to Promote Literacy to Youth By Josh Cohen, orlandomagic.com ny, 40 kids in Central Florida are he Orlando Magic is on a mission now more aware of the importance to change some very disheartening of reading and books. statistics. As part of the Baskets for Books proThey include attempting to increase gram, which has a purpose of develthe number of children’s books oping lifelong learners through litlow-income families have in their eracy and education, a “storytime” homes (currently stands at 61 per- was held for 40 local youth on Tuescent) and multiply the number of day, February 11 at the Florida Blue words kids in those same living con- Center in Winter Park. ditions hear on a daily basis through reading. Harkless, Moore and Florida Blue Chairman and CEO Patrick GerBy age four, children living in low-in- aghty joined together to read to the come homes have heard 32 million children and also handed out healthy fewer words than children who read snacks to preach the significance of regularly and have access to books. With help from Magic players Maurice Harkless and E’Twaun Moore, Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw and representatives from Florida Blue and the Houghton Mifflin & Harcourt (HMH) Publishing Compa- staying fit through a balanced diet and exercise. “Reading is pretty much the foundation of anything you do,” Harkless said. “It’s important for kids to enjoy reading at a young age. It’s fun to be part of something like this.” “They (kids) see us on TV playing and look up to us so telling them that reading and their education is important hopefully will make them want to continue improving their reading skills,” Moore added.