News Release

Football Superstars to Kick Off Largest National
Reading Celebration – NEA’s Read Across America

WASHINGTON—From coast to coast, readers all over the country are revving up for the national kick-off of America's largest reading event.  Attracting some of the biggest celebrities in entertainment and sports, the NEA's Read Across America program,  sponsored by the 2.7-million-member National Education Association (NEA) and Dr. Seuss Enterprises along with 45 national partner organizations, knows reading is "Where it's Hat" and expects millions of Americans, young and old, to open a book and celebrate reading on Mar. 2, NEA's Read Across America Day.

NEA’s Read Across America, a year-long program designed to get kids excited about reading, culminates every year on Dr. Theodore "Ted" Seuss's birthday on March 2.  Last year, reading events in all 50 states attracted more than 45 million readers of all ages. In celebration of the growing diversity of America's public schools, March 2 will also launch "Lea con NEA," a new program designed to reach out to Spanish speaking students. 

In its eighth year, politicians from both sides of the aisle will join the NEA’s Read Across America team with celebrities, sports athletes, recording artists, actors and actresses, firefighters, police officers, teachers, school professionals and librarians to help celebrate America’s dedication to reading and learning.

The NEA's Read Across America Team will be led by two co-captains, National Football League (NFL) superstars Tiki Barber, a running back of the New York Giants, and his twin brother, Ronde Barber, starting cornerback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Barbers will help deliver the reading message: Kids who read—and are read to—do better in school and help build great public schools.

"Nothing is more important to the future of America than our children," said NEA President Reg Weaver.  "We are pleased to have two American All-Star football players take the time to lead and guide our children so that we can all come together and embrace our common goal of educating for the future."

Reading with kids is not something new for the Barber twins.  Long before they became record-breaking NFL stars, Tiki and Ronde partnered up with Scholastic Book Clubs to pilot the "It Should Be Me" Writing Contest, designed to motivate students to read and write. In August 2004, Tiki and Ronde published By My Brother's Side (Simon & Schuster), a children's book illustrating their values of hard work and the importance of never giving up.

As co-captains of NEA’s Read Across America 2005, Tiki and Ronde will kick off the events by being featured in radio public service announcements, acting as spokesmen and providing outreach to encourage participation. On NEA's Read Across America Day on Mar. 2, Tiki and Ronde will be having fun while reading with kids in Washington, D.C.

To check out events taking place around the country, visit the RAA section of NEA's Web site.

Photos, video footage, and public service announcements are available to the media by calling (202) 822-7150 or sending an e-mail to Staci Maiers.

Jan. 30, 2005

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.