Posted: July 24, 2014
By: USC Athletics Media Relations
Members of the South Carolina men’s basketball team participated in a Cocky’s Reading Express program on Thursday morning at the Richland County Public Library. The community outreach is part of the "8K In 8 Days" campaign for Gamecock men's basketball.
Senior guard Tyrone Johnson, junior forward Brian Steele, and sophomore forward Reggie Theus Jr. took turns reading books to around 130 children and then signed autographs for the crowd.
“I had a great time reading to the kids today,” said Johnson. “It was another opportunity to give back to the community and to see these kids smile. I tell the kids, when I get an opportunity to talk to them to listen to their parents and do the best you can possibly do in school. Reading to them today shows them that education is the right way to go and reading is the best way to stay educated.”
Christine Shelek, who is in charge of the Cocky’s Reading Express™ program also talked about the day’s events.
“Cocky’s Reading Express began in 2005. It’s a collaboration with the school of library and information science and student government. As of today we’ve given out over 72,400 books.
“Today we partnered with the South Carolina men’s basketball team and we were very excited to have them as guest readers. They provided each child a voucher to attend a basketball game, which we put in a book that the child will receive. At every Cocky’s Reading Express event we provide each child with a brand new book so that they can build a home library.”