Reading is cool, Houston Texans safety Glover Quin told more than 2,500 children, parents, community volunteers and fans at a gigantic "read-along" at Reliant Center Saturday morning.
The "Readers Do Something About It" rally, sponsored by the United Way of Greater Houston, brought in 5,000 donated children's books, which will be distributed to Houston-area youth organization reading programs.
“I want to make it cool to read, make good grades and go to college," Quin said.
Quin read an excerpt from his two young sons’ favorite book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, and told the kids that in order to reach their dreams they need to do well in school.
“I want to make it cool to read, make good grades and go to college," he said. “I (knew I) could be anything I wanted to be. And so I did just that. I read and studied. I graduated from college and got the opportunity to come and play football for the Houston Texans."
Quin, 26, is a graduate of University of New Mexico, where he was a three-year starter on the football team and was voted "Most Valuable Player" by his teammates. He was drafted by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Anna Babin, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Houston, reminded the crowd that one in four students in the Greater Houston area does not graduate from high school. "We are working to change that by investing over $12 million annually in educational initiatives that lead to greater academic success for our children,” she said.
Also on hand were Texans president Jamey Rootes and 2012 United Way campaign chair Dorothy Ables, the chief administrative officer of Spectra Energy Corp. The Texans have teamed with United Way to promote reading and academic success for kids.
