Reliant & the Astros Foundation host third annual 'Slide into Summer Reading Program'

HOUSTON, TX - Reliant and the Astros Foundation kickoff the third annual Reliant Readers Slide into Summer Reading Program for the summer of 2024.

Parents can still sign their students up for this program, which is designed to get more Houston-area students reading during summer break. Kickoff events are scheduled at Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston ISD on June 3 at 11 a.m. and on June 6 at the Astros Youth Academy for home-schoolers. Other kickoff events for the program were previously held at Rees Elementary in Alief ISD and St. Jerome Catholic School.

The schools were each were awarded with a Reliant Reader Kickoff Party after signing up the most students for the summer reading program. These parties include a fun-filled afternoon that features special appearances by Astros mascot Orbit, Reliant’s mascot Hugo, the Astros Coca-Cola Shootings Stars and others as students pick up backpacks, books, bookmarks and snacks.

This incentive-based reading program motivates students to continue learning by putting a positive spin on the “summer slide,” which is a period of time when many younger and lower-income students can lose up to two months of reading achievement while out of school for the summer. This can negatively impact their education for multiple years. The goal is to achieve 60,000 reading hours this summer by elementary students in the Greater Houston and surrounding areas.

Throughout the summer, as part of the program, parents will help their students log their reading hours. At the end of the program, the top 1,000 readers (plus 1 guardian) will receive game tickets to the Astros game on Saturday, August 3rd at Minute Maid Park. They will also receive a prize pack with Astros and Reliant branded t-shirts and goodies. The top five readers will also receive the opportunity to attend pre-game batting practice and the top reader (1) will get to announce the “Play Ball” call at the start of the Astros game.

To sign up for the Reliant Readers Program, visit https://www.mlb.com/astros/fans/reliant-reader.