The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation, The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and The Home Depot are inviting Carson area and Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools to participate in the Reading Garden Challenge.
The Reading Garden Challenge is for students (grades K-5) to get a kick out of reading by participating in a four week reading challenge by either reading or being read to for 90 minutes a week for fun - not for homework or for other incentive programs. The top five schools with the most completed score sheets will be entered into a random drawing to be conducted by the sponsors.
The winning school will have a Reading Garden built at their school by the LA Galaxy Foundation, The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and The Home Depot. All students who complete the challenge will be rewarded with a Reading Garden Challenge certificate.
On Thursday, August 21, the Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation hosted the second annual How Suite It Is! Fundraiser sponsored by The Home Depot, The Estates Group and Angeleno Magazine. All proceeds from the exclusive event will be used to build the reading garden.
"We would like to thank all of our sponsors and supporters that made How Suite It Is! a success. It is because of their efforts and the proceeds generated that we are able to partner in this Reading Garden Challenge," said Gloria King, Director of the Galaxy Foundation. "It is one of our goals to promote literacy in the community and to encourage a life long love of reading. We feel that this reading garden will go a long way towards achieving that goal."
"Giving back to the communities in which we live, work and play is a fundamental value of The Home Depot and a passions for our associates. We are very proud to be a partner and look forward to creating a beautiful Reading Garden", said Sherry Caraway, Western Division Community Affairs Manager.
All schools interested in participating must meet the following criteria (additional restrictions may apply):
• Have a viable 40' x 30' grass or dirt space available for the Reading Garden
• Prior LAUSD/District approval for the build
• Staff available to maintain the garden
• Agreement to review of garden maintenance
Schools meeting the criteria should download the Reading Garden Challenge score sheet from one of the following websites:
www.lagalaxy.com (In the community section)
www.homedepotcenter.com (Foundation section)
www.thehomedepot.com
Reading Garden Challenge score sheets should be distributed to each student to track their reading minutes. Please note: Once the Reading Garden Challenge has been completed, all score sheets must be returned to the principal for submission.
Reading Garden Challenge - Contest Details:
Challenge Period: October 6-31, 2008
Reading Garden Challenge score sheets Deadline: November 7, 2008
Selection of Winner: on or about January 2009
Principals: Please submit Reading Garden Challenge score sheets to:
Reading Garden Challenge
c/o LA Galaxy Foundation
18400 Avalon Blvd, Suite 200
Carson, CA 90746
The LA Galaxy travel to Chicago to take on the Fire on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at Toyota Park in a game that can be seen live on ESPN2. The Galaxy are back in action at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, Oct. 12 when they host the Colorado Rapids at 5 p.m. In addition, the Galaxy and Infinity Insurance will be hosting its Galaxy Drive Series -Clothing Drive and are encouraging fans to clean out their closets and assist those in need during the winter months. For more information about this or to order tickets to future Galaxy games, please visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY.
