WOODLAND HILLS, CA — NBA star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, are planning to put 150 Little Town Libraries for book sharing around neighborhoods in Oakland, CA. The initiative is being spearheaded by the nonprofit that they founded in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. These mini libraries will provide children with free books, and the goal is to get them to read more since literacy rates have declined due to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial one has already popped up at Franklin Elementary.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry pose with one of their Little Town Libraries at Franklin Elementary in Oakland, CA. (Photo Credit: Eat. Learn. Play.)
"From kindergarten through third grade, making sure you are reading at your grade level by the time you get to third grade determines your educational future. So for us, turning those numbers around is really, really important,” Ayesha Curry, co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play. said.
Their foundation released a press release stating that only 1 in 3 children are reading at a third-grade level by the time they end the third grade. It also reported that in Oakland, only 15.4% of Black and 12.5% of Latino/a elementary students are reading at the grade level they should be after two years of online learning.
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"These boxes, can hopefully make the access to literacy resources and service these kids in a fun way and accessible way. Like Ayesha said, 150 of these are going to go around Oakland and the right areas and locations. But that means 30,000 books at the hands of kids that need the inspiration, the tools to develop at the right ages and hopefully bring an amazing experience of fun to reading which is what it's all about,” Stephen Curry, a Golden State Warriors player and co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play. said.
Ayesha Curry with children at Franklin Elementary in Oakland, CA. (Photo Credit: Eat. Learn. Play.)
Eat. Learn. Play. is partnering with the nonprofit, Little Free Library, to get the boxes installed. They will also rely on three other nonprofit foundations in Oakland to maintain and manage the boxes. Local artists will put their flavor on the boxes and will provide the artwork.
(Photo Credit: Casey Pratt, ABC7)
(Photo Credit: Casey Pratt, ABC7)
AUDIO
Jenilee reports on Stephen and Ayesha Curry's Little Town Libraries
Eat. Learn. Play. and Little Free Library both take outside donations, but the Curry's fund their foundation’s operating costs and donate as well. The mission statement of the foundation is below:
"Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is committed to unlocking the amazing potential of every child by fighting to end childhood hunger, ensuring students have access to a quality education, and providing safe places for all children to play and be active."
In September 2021, Eat. Learn. Play. used a bus to distribute hot meals, groceries, fresh produce, and free books to children who were in need in Oakland. Now they are expanding by developing this large book-sharing library that will benefit more children.
By: Jenilee Borek
Contributions: ABC7 News, USA TODAY Sports Plus, Forbes, Eat. Learn. Play., Language Magazine
Photo Credit: Eat. Learn. Play., Casey Pratt, ABC7
Audio: Jenilee Borek, Chris Alvarez, ABC7
EDUCATE YOURSELF
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