Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Andre Reed was in town earlier this month to kick off his “Read with Reed 83 Challenge” at the Boys & Girls Clubhouse at 370 Massachusetts Ave.
“Imagine if young people in our inner-cities were as pumped about reading Shakespeare as they are about rooting on their favorite NFL teams,” said the Hall of Famer, who realized early in life that the joy he felt after scoring a game-winning touchdown was the same feeling he experienced after reading a good book or acing a test.
Reed, who wore jersey #83, thrilled Buffalo Bills fans for 15 years with his acrobatic catches, consistency, dedication and uncanny ability to shake off defenders. That’s what made the seven-time Pro Bowler one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. And now, he’s harnessed those Hall of Fame attributes to inspire learning through his newly introduced 30-day reading initiative called the Read with Reed 83 Challenge.
The reading challenge — which allows a player to advance a football with every book he or she reads — made its debut at the Boys & Girls Club in Buffalo on Sept. 8. Reed will also introduce his program in other major cities — including San Diego, Cleveland, Boston, Kansas City and New York City — in the coming weeks.
“I grew up in a Boys & Girls Club, and their programs helped lay the groundwork for my football career,” added Reed, who hopes to personally lead the charge and motivate young people to read through video conferencing and personal appearances at participating clubs.
Helping to fund the literacy initiative is a new children’s book titled, “Little Andre Reads,” which depicts how Reed’s football talent and love of reading at a young age helped secure his great career as a player in the NFL and beyond. The book can be ordered for just $19.99 by clicking on the following link: www.createspace.com/7547655.
For more information on the Read with Read 83 Challenge and the Reed Across America Literacy Tour, please contact Theresa Villano at (716) 913-8959 or vi************@ya***.com.
