Press Release: Reading is Cool

Sample press release written in COMM 310 about a reading event sponsored by the Charleston Battery, a professional soccer team in Charleston, SC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2022

CONTACT:

Kiley Pettit

Director of Media Relations

843-971-1234

media@charlestonbattery.com

Charleston Battery begins campaign to improve reading literacy for second-graders

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery—a local semi-professional soccer team—is kicking off a reading campaign for second-graders at the four Charleston Promise Neighborhood schools.

Reading Is Cool is an effort to support the state’s emphasis on better reading skills among elementary students.

South Carolina passed the Read to Succeed Act in 2014 that requires any third-grader who cannot pass the state reading test to repeat third grade. In 2021, 25% of South Carolina’s third-graders were held back.

The Battery, especially midfielder Goebel Perez, sees a need for increased reading skills among second-graders.

“I really believe it is important for kids to be good readers. I know what it’s like to be in school and feel isolated because you can’t read and are too embarrassed to get extra help and learn,” Perez said. “Thanks to my soccer coach in Florida, I learned to read, and it changed my life.”

Just For Kicks is the first effort of the campaign where Battery players will visit a school two days a week to read and play soccer with the second graders every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5 p.m., Oct. 4-Nov. 2.

The hope is to motivate students to become avid readers with athletes as positive role models.

“Kids need to be motivated. They don’t have a lot of role models at home, but professional athletes provide a great role model of how to be successful doing something these kids know is fun,” said Sanders-Clyde Elementary School principal Anthony Dixon.

The Battery Book Bonanza will be an ongoing book drive for people to donate new/slightly used books to the Charleston Promise Neighborhood schools.

The book drive will begin Oct. 3 and last through December at all Charleston County Library branches.

Monetary donations for new books will also be accepted via www.batterybookbonanza.com.

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About The Charleston Battery:

Founded in 1993, The Charleston Battery is a semi-professional soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina. As the oldest continuously-operating professional soccer team in the United States, they have won numerous championships including the 2012 USL Pro Championship. The Battery is an active member of the Charleston community as they support various efforts in schools and organizations across the Lowcountry.