Max Muncy Inspires Students with Storytime at Gabriella Charter School

Reading is very important, and the sooner children hear stories, the better. This early exposure boosts their vocabulary and language skills while sparking their imagination and curiosity.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the L.A. Dodgers have recognized the benefits of storytime for young children and have partnered with Gabriella Charter Schools to encourage reading among students.

LA Reads and Storytimes

LA Reads is a program that helps improve reading skills and interest in books among young people in Los Angeles through Storytimes.

Money to grow

In an effort to encourage and promote reading on a daily basis in a fun environment, the LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman, Robin and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, presented Gabriella Charter Schools with a check for $14,000 to transform their existing gardens into Dodgers Foundation Community Reading Gardens.

The school was also given 880 brand new books by the Dodgers organization and each student at the storytime event was given a book to take home.

Guest reader for today’s event: Max Muncy

A large group of second graders gathered in the Dance Studio at Gabriella Charter School in Echo Park, CA today to meet, greet, and have a story read to them by the Dodgers 3rd baseman, Max Muncy.

The students’ excitement was evident as they chanted, “Let’s go Dodgers, let’s go!” multiple times before Muncy entered the room and shortly thereafter when he sat down to read.

The chants brought a smile to the guest of honor’s face, indicating his appreciation, as he looked around at the energetic group of students seated in front of him.

Storytime and student Q & A with Max Muncy

Muncy read “Watch Me Throw the Ball” to the second graders, who sat and listened attentively to the story.

HB’s One on One with Max Muncy, Nichol Whiteman, and Stephanie Piazza

Once storytime with Max Muncy ended, we were able to talk with him, the CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Nichol Whiteman, and Stephanie Piazza, the principal of Gabriella’s Charter School Echo Park.

We asked about the importance of reading stories aloud to children, personal experiences with being read to, and ways parents can improve the positive effects of storytime at home.

ADVERTISEMENT

Q & A with Muncy, Whiteman, and Piazza