News

Florence Freedom and Xavier University Team Up for Liberty's X-treme Reading Team

Free reading program will benefit kids K-8.

12/07/07

The Florence Freedom are excited to announce a new partnership with Xavier University for the 2008 baseball season. The university has signed on to sponsor the Freedom's new reading club, Liberty's X-treme Reading Team.

Liberty's X-treme Reading Team is a free reading program for kids in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Eighteen local schools have already signed on to participate in the program this year.

"This program is going to give kids even more reasons to keep reading," said Freedom General Manager Kari Rumfield. "Our new partnership with Xavier is sure to attract further attention to this great series."

Kids read four books to score a "home run" which earns them a voucher for one Wednesday night Florence Freedom game (excluding Opening Day) in 2008. Kids can earn up to 7 vouchers over the course of the eight week program. Participating schools receive special bookmarks and posters to track each of the students' progress.

"Xavier University's College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education is thrilled to be partnering with the Florence Freedom," mentioned Mark Meyers, Dean of the College. "We are both committed to having a direct impact upon the lives of our community. In our college we have a simple motto which guides all of our efforts; 'Collaborate, Innovate, Educate.' Our partnership with the Freedom is a vibrant example of how Collaboration can lead toward the development of an innovative program which will have a direct impact on education of every level of our community."

Learn more about Liberty's X-treme Reading Team and how to get your school involved at www.florencefreedom.com

Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No.2 among master's-level universities in the Midwest, and The Princeton Review names it as one of the"Best 366 Colleges in America."

Florence Freedom is a member of the Frontier League, a 12-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. The Freedom play a 96 game schedule with 54 home games between late May and early September.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Thompson at the Freedom office by calling (859) 594-4487 x 17 or via email ashley.thompson@florencefreedom.com or Mark Meyers at 513-745-3119 or at meyersd3@xavier.edu