Get R.E.A.L.
Through our school outreach program “Get R.E.A.L.” (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership), WWE Superstars visit junior and senior high schools to speak to students on how to achieve success through these core values. WWE Superstars have presented programs and provided Get R.E.A.L. posters to teachers and students in more than 32 states and in Canada.
GET R. E. A. L. NEWS
WWE Wins Beacon Award for WrestleMania Reading Challenge Program
WWE recently won its first Beacon Award in the Community Relations-Other category. The Beacon Awards are the cable industries highest award for communications excellence. Cable operators, programming networks, cable associations and new technology partners are recognized for achievements in public affairs and communications initiatives in categories such as community relations, competitive response, and programming. The Beacon Award winners of 2008 achieve peer, industry and local market recognition for their exemplary work and set a standard for excellence for their colleagues to emulate.
Others receiving 2008 Beacon Awards were Comcast, Cox, Charter, Time Warner, Cablevision, Bright House, Lifetime, Fox Sports Network, Discovery Channel, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Animal Planet, USA Network.
The WrestleMania Reading Challenge also has received an honorable mention from PR News in this year's national Corporate Social Responsibility competition. PR News' Corporate Social Responsibility Awards recognizes the year’s most outstanding communications initiatives and programs in the CSR arena. Winners and honorable mentions were honored in more than 30 categories for outstanding CSR efforts over the past year. WWE was a finalist in the Corporate Affairs category along with ChoicePoint, Sprint, and IKEA, which won top honors for its campaign to stop using plastic bags.
The WrestleMania Reading Challenge has grown from occasional library visits into a nationally recognized program, which in 2007/2008 impacted more than 30,000 high school and middle schools students and involved more than 1,170 libraries in 49 states. The program also has expanded into the United Kingdom with similar success.
View WrestleMania Reading Challenge video.
O'Town reading showdown
ORLANDO, Fla. – An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but for 13-year-old David Silva and 16-year-old Ajoura Gwinn, a book a week earned them front row tickets to WrestleMania XXIV. (PHOTOS)
Silva, a seventh-grader from Elizabeth, N.J., and Gwinn, a high school sophomore from Pittsburgh, were crowned the winners of the 2008 WrestleMania Reading Challenge on Saturday morning. In front of family, friends, and hundreds of youngsters at the Downtown Branch of the Orlando Public Library, Silva and Gwinn each beat out four other regional finalists in their age groups – seventh and eighth grade for David, ninth through 12th for Ajoura – to claim their crowns. Sam Phillips, Louis Ellis and Lee Skelhorn, the three winners of the U.K. Reading Challenge, were also honored. To read the full story, please click here.
WrestleMania® Reading Challenge Finalists On Their Way To Orlando To Compete For National Championship
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), and World Wrestling Entertainmentâ (WWEâ) today announced the 10 regional finalists who will compete to become this year’s national WrestleMania Reading Challenge Champion. Each finalist won airfare, hotel, and spending cash for two to Orlando, tickets to WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando on March 30, 2008, $2,000 for their local or school library and a chance to compete in the WrestleMania Reading Challenge finals on March 29 at the Orlando Public Library.
This year’s regional finalists are in two categories, grades 7-8 and grades 9-12. Finalists in the grades 7-8 category are:
- Chris Thompson, Cave City, Ky., from LeGrande Elementary
- Laquan Deen, Homestead, Pa., from Carnegie Library of Homestead
- Emily Hardy, Seattle, Wash., from McClure Middle School
- Beau Snoad, Napolean, Ohio, from Napoleon Middle School Library
- David Silva, Orlando, Fla., from Orlando Public Library
Finalists in the grades 9-12 category are:
- Zacary Harper, Lake Wales, Fla., from Lake Wales Public Library
- Ajoura Gwinn, Munhall, Pa., from Carnegie Library of Homestead
- Amber Dales, Des Moines, Iowa, from Southeast Polk High School
- Arun Natarajan, Hicksville, N.Y., from Hicksville Public Library
- Kady Marie Peters, Orlando, Fla., from Orlando Public Library
The WrestleMania Reading Challenge, sponsored by YALSA, asked students in grades 7-12 to read 10 books between the start of Teen Read WeekÔ on October 14, 2007, and January 14, 2008. Each participant was required to submit a short reading log that described the books and magazines that had been read. Participants were then required to submit a short essay on the topic, “Why WrestleMania Got Me Reading.” The winning entry from each library was submitted to YALSA and five regional finalists were chosen in grades 7-8 and grades 9-12 categories to be national finalists.
“Partnering with WWE provides YALSA the chance to reach a wide audience of teens with a message about the vital role books, reading and libraries can play in their lives,” said YALSA President Paula Brehm-Heeger. “The WrestleMania Reading Challenge is a great way to highlight teens’ learning, accomplishments and, after discovering all of the great titles they've read for the Challenge, their knowledge of teen literature!”
For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, films, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.
WWE and Libraries Form Tag Team To Launch WrestleMania Reading Challenge During Teen Read Week
World Wrestling Entertainment® and libraries across the country are celebrating Teen Read Week with the kick-off of this year’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge, which encourages teens across the country to read a combination of books and other literature as they vie for a free trip to WrestleMania 24 and the chance to become the national WrestleMania Reading Challenge Champion.
As the competition enters its second year, WWE is working with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the youth division of the American Library Association, and approximately 1,200 local libraries across the country to get teens engaged in reading. The nationwide contest is being launched during Teen Read Week, held this year from October 14-20.
Teens in grades 7-12 are eligible to sign up for the program. Each teen will be asked to read a combination of 10 books and magazines, and then submit a short essay on the theme, “How WrestleMania Got Me Reading.” Local libraries will then choose the best essay submitted by 7th and 8th graders, and the best essay for high school age students. A panel of judges organized by YALSA will then choose 10 finalists, five from each grade category and from different regions of the country, to compete in the national finals in Orlando, Fla., the host city for WrestleMania 24.
The 10 finalists will be hosted by WWE at WrestleMania 24, and will attend the global event, which is the “Super Bowl” of sports entertainment. The libraries sponsoring the finalists will each receive a $2,000 donation.
The year’s Teen Read Week poster, based on the theme of “LOL @ Your Library features Teen Read Week spokespersons and WWE Superstars CM Punk™, the Miz™, Kristal™ and Matt Striker™.
WWE’s Get REAL Program Crowns 2007 Reading Challenge Champion
WWE along with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), is proud to announce that Adrianna Slaughter of Mitchellville, Iowa is this year’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge Champion. Adrianna competed with thousands of fellow grade 9-12 students from across the country, eventually being named a regional finalist and getting her shot to compete at the Reading Challenge Championship held on March, 31 in Detroit, Mich. Adrianna edged out the other four finalists, answering trivia pertaining to two required reading books: Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher and Black & White by Paul Volponi. All of the finalists won tickets to WrestleMania on Sunday, April 1, with Adrianna’s first place finish landing her ringside, right alongside all of the WWE Superstars at the annual pop culture spectacular. WWE and YALSA would thank all of the children and libraries who participated in this year’s competition, and congratulates Adrianna on her victory. Click here to view a clip of the Reading Challenge.
WWE Legend Jimmy Hart to Appear at Raise-A-Reader Day
WWE Legend Jimmy ‘Mouth of The South’ Hart will be making an appearance on Thursday, September 28, in Windsor, Canada at CanWest’s Raise-a-Reader Day charity event to help promote literacy and the upcoming WrestleMania 23 pay-per-view in neighboring Detroit, Mich. The event is sponsored by The Windsor Star and Cheerios.
Hart will be visiting various locations in Windsor, starting in the early morning at the Daimler Chrysler Plant and finishing up in downtown Windsor. In addition to his various stops, fans will also hear Hart on-air with local radio station 95.1 CKUE.
CanWest Raise-a-Reader is an award-winning national program and is designed to increase awareness and raise money and resources in support of family literacy programs. All of the money raised through Raise-a-Reader is donated to local literacy and educational organizations and stays in the community where the funds are collected.
For more information on the CanWest Raise-a-Reader program, please visit their website: http://www.canada.com/national/features/raiseareader/index.html.
"Big Time Reading Challenge" Winners & Wrap-up
WWE’s Get R.E.A.L. Read initiative, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), Comcast, and the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services joined forces to launch the "Big Time Reading Challenge," a reading incentive program for teens designed around WWE’s WrestleMania 22.
The “Big Time Reading Challenge” was aimed at Chicago public high school students. Students had to read one book a week in their free time, and then needed to submit an essay contest to win a pair of tickets to WrestleMania 22 that took place at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena on April 2. Congratulations to the more than 750 students who participated in the challenge. After narrowing the finalists down in a competition hosted by WWE Superstars Shelton Benjamin and Rey Mysterio and young adult author Chris Crutcher at Robert Morris College, the "Big Time Reading Challenge"winners were:
First Place – Darryl P.– Chicago Military Academy
Second Place – Jaron P.– Julian High School
Third Place – Angel R.– Clemente High School
The 16 finalists each recieved a pair of tickets to WrestleMania with the top three winners also receiving a donation to their schools' library.
WWE® Superstars Champion Reading On Both Sides of the Atlantic
World Wrestling Entertainment® Superstars are promoting literacy on both sides of the Atlantic as part of the company’s Get R.E.A.L. READ initiative.
In the U.S., WWE SmackDown® Superstar Rey Mysterio® is serving as spokesperson for Teen Read Week. Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative to encourage teens to take time to ‘read for the fun of it.' This year's theme is “Get Real! @ your library.” WWE has created a special Rey Mysterio reading poster to commemorate this year’s Teen Read Week from October 16-22. Teens can obtain the poster by going to their participating local library and presenting their library card or applying to receive a library card. More information on the program can be found at WWE.com.
In the U.K., WWE Champion John Cena®, WWE RAW® Superstar Shelton Benjamin™ and Rey Mysterio are featured in a series of posters in support of the National Reading Campaign, an initiative of the National Literacy Trust. The campaign focuses on encouraging boys and young men to read more often. About 30,000 Reading Champions posters have been made available free of charge to schools across the country. WWE will be making appearances for NLT at local schools when it tours the U.K. in November. More information on the program can be found at WWE.com/worldwide.
WWE has a long tradition of supporting educational and literacy initiatives in the United States, and we have made it a priority to expand these efforts as it more fully expands its business around the globe.
“I've often said that the most interesting people also are readers and Rey Mysterio exemplifies that concept. All of us in YALSA are pleased that Rey Mysterio is a spokesperson for Teen Read Week. He understands how reading can be the perfect relaxer for teens or anyone, whether it comes after a night of wrestling or after a couple hours cramming for an exam,” said YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley.
YALSA is the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Julia Strong, Director of the National Reading Campaign in the U.K., added ““Reading has the power to change lives. The WWE Superstars are heroes to many people, and we’re delighted to be working with them to inspire others to read. ”
Get R.E.A.L. Appearances
During the school year, Get R.E.A.L. will be making stops at schools across the country and when school is out, don’t miss out on the Get R.E.A.L. summer library program. Find out more on how to participate in one the events!
Get R.E.A.L. Testimonials
WWE Get R.E.A.L. tours across the country and tries to visit as many libraries and schools as possible. Read some responses from librarians and teachers who participated in the program and contact us if you would like us to come to a library or school near you.
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