A River Rascal…or a Book Worm?

Aside from baseball season, Crash’s favorite time of year is March – because it’s Reading Month!

Recognizing the importance of childhood literacy, the Whitecaps Community Foundation and LMCU celebrated March is Reading Month by donating over 4,200 books to Grand Rapids elementary schools. The book donation benefits students in kindergarten through fifth grade in 14 elementary schools in the Grand Rapids Public School District.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation started its book donation program in 2015, when 300 books were donated to one school in need. In subsequent years, the program has grown considerably to include various schools each year in an effort to reach as many students as possible. Typically, the schools are also visited by Crash the River Rascal, who joins in handing out books and giving smiles and high fives. Although Whitecaps Manager Brayan Pena isn’t in West Michigan this time of year to visit schools, he knows the importance of reading. In 2020 he shared (virtually) one of his favorite – stories.   

One of the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s five core programs is The Reading Club, an incentive-based program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Whitecaps Community Foundation provides all support materials to schools at no cost to promote reading through the month of March. Students who complete the reading objective of 15 minutes per day during March is Reading Month will receive the opportunity to attend a West Michigan Whitecaps home game for free.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation, the nonprofit extension of the West Michigan Whitecaps, is a 501c3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of youth and their families by providing them with access to social, educational, and recreational programs that will have a positive impact on their futures. With the help and generosity of community partners and members, the Whitecaps Community Foundation continues to make the West Michigan area an inclusive and diverse place for fun, community, and experiences.

In 2022, through a combination of donations and fundraising efforts, the Whitecaps Community Foundation gave nearly one million dollars to the community.  For details on the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s programs, how to participate in the Reading Program, and donation information, please visit us at www.whitecapscommunityfoundation.org or call the Whitecaps Front Office at 616.784.4131.