New initiative aims to inspire children to embrace the joy of reading throughout the summer and reward them for their accomplishments
MIAMI – The Miami Marlins and the Miami-Dade Public Library System have teamed up to champion reading for South Florida children with the launch of Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge presented by OptiBrand Rx. The new initiative aims to inspire children to embrace the joy of reading throughout the summer, with rewards and prizes along the way!
Beginning on June 1 and continuing until August 14, 2023, Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge will be available at all 50 branches of the Miami-Dade Public Library System thanks to the support of OptiBrand Rx. Kids can step up to the plate and accept the challenge, embarking on a rewarding literary journey by picking up their very own Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge Field Card. This Field Card will serve as their guide, tracking their progress as they navigate the bases towards completing the challenge and earning their free pass to Marlins baseball.
“We are excited to help ignite the passion for reading in our future leaders with the launch of Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge and thankful for the support from our partners at OptiBrand Rx and the Miami-Dade Public Library System,” said Marlins Senior Vice President of Communications and Outreach Jason Latimer. “This fun initiative underscores our commitment to empowering young minds and fostering a lifelong love for reading and baseball.”
Each base of the challenge represents a significant milestone, offering young readers rewards that reinforce their dedication to reading:
- Readers can present their library card or register for one, receiving their Field Card in return and advancing to 1st base.
- To head to 2nd Base, they will check out a book and receive an exclusive Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge bookmark.
- To get to 3rd Base, readers attend a library event while also earning an exclusive Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge All-Star Reader rubber bracelet.
- Readers complete Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge by crossing Home Plate once they read for a total of 10 hours to earn their ticket to catch a Marlins game at loanDepot Park*.
*Recipients will receive a ticket voucher, granting them access select Marlins home games at loanDepot park.
To join Billy’s Summer Reading Challenge presented by OptiBrand Rx, in conjunction with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, children can visit their local Miami-Dade Public Library System branch. By accepting the challenge, young readers will not only embark on a thrilling reading adventure, but also discover the wonder and excitement that lies within the pages of a book.
More educational opportunities are available this summer with the Summer Slugger program, a continuous and engaging learning experience that uses the game of baseball to prepare students of all backgrounds to enter the next school year on track. The Marlins have partnered with digital learning innovator EVERFI to help prevent the “summer-slide” in 4th – 5th graders. All students are invited to participate in this online, baseball-themed learning course that helps reinforce critical math and literacy skills. Students earn points, unlock levels and receive progress-based rewards throughout the summer. The fun starts now at Marlins.com/SummerSlugger.
For more information on all the educational programs available to South Florida children, visit MarlinsImpact.com.
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About OptiBrand Rx:
OptiBrand Rx is the boutique full-service strategic market research agency that is tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical brands. We understand the value of delivering comprehensive insights that link to strategic recommendations. Be it ATUs, demand studies, segmentation, positioning testing, message testing, concept testing, or even something more unique, we are armed with the expertise, knowledge, and resources to unlock the full potential of your brand.
