Dingers Home Run Reading Club Kicks Off for 2004

Monday, January 5, 2004 marked the kickoff of Dingers Home Run Reading Club, a county wide reading program sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Entering its third successful year, the program places volunteer readers in elementary and primary schools in Horry County. Joining the front office staff from the baseball team as reading volunteers are Horry County Police COPE team members and representatives from local Wendy’s restaurants. PET Dairy, Inlet Printing Company and Coastal Federal Bank join the Pelicans and Wendy’s as sponsors of the program.

The volunteer readers go to their assigned schools once a week to interact with students and to encourage them to participate in the Accelerated Reader program. Children earn points for reading books and can receive prizes ranging from bookmarks and school supplies to baseball tickets. Horry County school district officials organize and oversee the volunteer efforts.

2004 marks the third year for this successful program. In 2003, all twenty-three elementary schools in Horry County participated, and over 6,200 children achieved at least one prize level. As stated by Pelicans General Manager Matt O’Brien, “The reading program is such a great opportunity for the Pelicans and a few of our partners to inspire youngsters to read more. Every bit of inspiration to achieve more helps these youngsters. We are proud to operate this program with Horry County School District.”

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and play on Coastal Federal Field. The team will begin its sixth year on the Grand Strand when the regular season opens on April 8, 2004.

Thanks to MBBC’s Glenn Fallon & Angela Barwick for this capcom story & graphic.