Washington, DC -- In remarks prepared for delivery at the new Kingsbridge Library announcing a program to promote reading and literacy, Congressman Eliot Engel called reading not only a gateway to learning but something to be enjoyed.

The congressman couldn’t attend the program, having to be in Washington to vote on the debt ceiling legislation.

In his remarks he thanked John Starks, the New York Knicks, Kia Motors, and Cablevision for their contributions to this program to encourage reading and literacy among children.

“As a former teacher,” he noted, “I know the value and importance of being able to read and along with learning the joy to be found in reading.

“It is a wonderful thing that John Starks, an NBA superstar with more than 1,000 three-pointers to his credit, and Cablevision and Kia Motor are here to encourage reading among our youngsters. They recognize that a community coming together to help its own is the best way to educate our children.”

He said that without the ability to read our ability to educate is practically non-existent. But the power of books to take us away is only limited by the imagination. Pictures can show you the Mississippi River, he said, but read ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and you are on the river, taking an adventurous ride.

The Summer Reading Program aims to help children aged 6-12, at participating libraries in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.  The program encourages reading through incentives and by book giveaways and read-aloud events. John Starks read to the children. Also, thanks to the NY Knicks there was a colorful “Knicks Read To Achieve” poster, plus free T-shirts and 10 pairs of pre-season Knicks tickets.    

The congressman thanked Cablevision, the New York Knicks and Kia Motors for this innovative program to promote reading by making it fun and interesting. “No skill is more crucial to the future of a child than literacy,” he said. “ It is not only vital to succeeding in school and in life, but also strengthens self confidence and fosters creativity.”

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