SAN JOSE, California – On Friday, Mar. 15, Sharks alum Mike Ricci and loveable mascot S.J. Sharkie visited Comerica Bank’s Almaden Branch to help promote the importance of youth literacy through the Reading Is Cool Presented by Comerica Bank program. In exchange for books or monetary donations , the two easily-recognizable local celebrities signed autographs and took photos with excited Sharks fans.

This year, the Reading Is Cool Presented by Comerica Bank is reaching over 1,100 local classrooms and 31,000 students. Over 150 books were collected on Friday, all of which will be donated to local classrooms as part of S.J. Sharkie’s monthly motivational visits.

Click here to see a photo album from this event.

ABOUT READING IS COOL:

Reading Is Cool Presented by Comerica Bank is a free and unique literacy program focused on public K-6 grade classrooms in Santa Clara County and southern Alameda County. It promotes the importance of reading while sharing the excitement and enjoyment of a good book. Through a multifaceted approach that includes exclusive experiences and incentives, students are encouraged to succeed as individual readers and as a classroom team. Since its inception in 1998, Reading Is Cool presented by Comerica Bank has positively impacted nearly 300,000 local students.

ABOUT THE SHARKS FOUNDATION:

The Sharks Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth and families in our community with an emphasis in the areas of Education, Health and Safety, and Character Development. The Sharks Foundation supplies emergency aid when appropriate, executes unique and relevant programming, supports the advancement of youth hockey and provides financial support and resources to organizations that enrich the lives of those in need.

For more information about the Sharks Foundation, visit: http://www.thesharksfoundation.org/

You can also follow the Sharks Foundation on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SharksFoundation