LANSING — The deadline to have Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader read to an elementary school classroom is Feb. 1.
The Michigan Education Savings Program is sponsoring the Red Wings for Reading contest, which encourages all kindergarten through fifth-grade students attending a Michigan elementary school to enter by reading three books selected by Abdelkader, or by having a parent or teacher read the books to them.
Abdelkader, who played collegiately at Michigan State University, selected “Time to Sleep” by Denise Fleming, “Curious George” by Margaret Rey and H.A. Rey and “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss for kindergarteners through second-graders. He selected “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner and “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White for third- through fifth-graders.
The selections for third- through fifth-graders are “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner and “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White.
Every student whose caregiver submits an entry form receives a fan pack that includes a personalized certificate of completion bearing Abdelkader’s signature, a bookmark and a sticker. In addition, from the submitted entries, one Abby’s All Star is chosen to receive two free tickets to each Red Wings home game. Each game’s All Star is recognized on the arena scoreboard during the first intermission.
The school that submits the most entries by Feb. 1 will have an opportunity to have Abdelkader read to a classroom. If the class is within 30 minutes of Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit, Abdelkader will travel to the school. If the school is more than 30 minutes away, the class will be invited to take a field trip to the arena, where Abdelkader will read to them.
More information on the program, including contest entry forms, is available at www.DetroitRedWings.com/reading.
Every student whose caregiver submits an entry form receives a fan pack that includes a personalized certificate of completion bearing Abdelkader’s signature, a bookmark and a sticker. In addition, from the submitted entries, one Abby’s All Star is chosen to receive two free tickets to each Red Wings home game. Each game’s All Star is recognized on the arena scoreboard during the first intermission.
MESP is one of three Michigan Section 529 plans, all of which offer Michigan taxpayers a state income tax deduction on contributions and potential tax-free growth on any earnings if account proceeds are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.