When a six-foot-four professional basketball player walks into a room full of kids, giggles are soon replaced with �oohs and ahs.� That�s what happened earlier this week when Monarchs center Adrian Williams-Strong showed up at Father Keith B. Kenny Elementary to host a Reading Timeout for kids in the school�s START Program.

After introducing herself to the kids, Williams-Strong read a book, then held an interactive question and answer session.

�I just love children,� she said. �I love seeing the purity in their faces. There are so many different ages, shapes and colors. I really enjoy being able to come out here and share who I am, and them getting a kick out of who I am. I use that as a way to motivate them.�

Read to Achieve is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a lifelong love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.

Williams-Strong said that as professional athletes, �We have a platform, and an obligation to use it in a positive way.�