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The Sacramento Monarchs hosted a Reading Time Out for more than 400 kids Monday at the Oak Ridge Elementary School in Oak Park. The great tradition of the Sacramento Monarchs Read to Achieve Campaign kicks off its 2007 season as Monarchs players, along with Monarchs Assistant Coach Monique Ambers visited the school to promote literacy to students.

The event started in the school�s courtyard, where players read to the kids in small groups. After that, players and kids moved indoors where the Monarchs discussed the importance of reading and getting a strong education.

�One of the things we�re trying to stress to our kids is the importance of staying in school, and making a difference in the community,� said Steve Lewis, the principal of Oakridge Elementary School. �So it�s wonderful to have our very own Sacramento Monarchs come in and push that same message. Many of our kids want to be professional athletes, so it�s great to have actual pro athletes stressing the importance of education. This is something these kids are never going to forget.�

Kristin Haynie and Chelsea Newton

Read to Achieve is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long 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.

The Monarchs will host the Los Angeles Sparks in their Home Opener on Saturday, June 2 at ARCO Arena, and locally televised on News10. Sacramento begins the season with their first four games on the road, including the WNBA season opener, in a nationally televised game (ABC), against the 2006 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock on Saturday, May 19.

A variety of season and group ticket packages are on sale now.

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