UC Berkeley student-athletes visited Grant Elementary School on Tuesday to discuss the importance of literacy and education with students. The visit inspired the students and encouraged them to continue reading.
This visit marked the continuation of a three-year partnership between Grant Elementary and UC Berkeley Athletics. The collaboration centers on the “Go Girls Go Bears Go Play” program, which encourages literacy through an annual summer reading challenge.
Students are incentivized with free tickets to a Cal football game in September for their participation and reading in the summer challenge. The initiative has grown this year to support Grant’s literacy goals by asking students in grades 3–5 to get a library card, read for 30 minutes daily, five days a week, finish three books, and turn in their reading logs to UC Berkeley Athletics.
Participating students also earn access to a schoolwide educational field trip, with transportation provided so the community can attend together.
“This work reflects a shared goal of strengthening students’ connection to reading and libraries while building lifelong literacy habits,” district officials said.
