Beale Street Bears
Fansided

Memphis Grizzlies: A Team that Gives Back on and off the Court

By Blake Monroe

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 8: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies design sneakers with patients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a part of "Hoops for St. Jude" on March 8, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 8: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies design sneakers with patients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a part of "Hoops for St. Jude" on March 8, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 20: Tony Allen (L) and Xavier Henry of the Memphis Grizzlies read to students during a Read to Achieve Event on October 20, 2010 at Robert R. Church Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee.
MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 20: Tony Allen (L) and Xavier Henry of the Memphis Grizzlies read to students during a Read to Achieve Event on October 20, 2010 at Robert R. Church Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee. /

Reading over Grit n’ Grind

The reading to achieve program is an initiative that is sponsored by many Memphis based corporations including the Grizzlies. The point of this outreach is make a passion for reading in the lives of young elementary school students.

Having role models such as Gasol, Conley, and most recently Jevon Carter, makes a child more willing to do something they may not always be willing to do. The Grizzlies believe that through reading a child can be impacted to continue school, which will ultimately increase graduation rates in the area. All of this can be started and carried out through someone that these children look up to.

Each year there is a finale reading celebration held at the FedEx forum and to this day almost 16,000 elementary students are involved each year.

Tony Allen best puts it into words with his statement on Grizzliesfoundation.org, Memphis gives us so much love. Giving back is just a natural part of our connection. We try to reflect this city on the court and off.”

And that the Memphis Grizzlies embody to the fullest. A small market team with a big market heart, this team will do anything they can to help children exceed and make a better life for themselves and they believe it can start with something as simple as picking up a book.

Home/Grizzlies News