PISTONS: Read to Achieve

"Kids love the new library so much that teachers have had to schedule extra library time for each class."
- Principal Teri Bernero, Lewton Elementary School - Site of Pistons 11th library renovation

Read to Achieve is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.

Read to Achieve Accomplishments

The Pistons have renovated a league high 16 Live, Learn and Play centers to date. The renovation process starts with a meeting between Pistons community relations staff and school superintendents to determine the need for a new library or resource center. The Pistons then commission new paint, new carpet, new furniture and technology as needed for the existing site, and the Pistons also develop a host of graphics of players, Pistons personalities and basketball-themed visuals to bring new life to the room. To top it all off, the Pistons orders hundreds of new books for each new renovated library or resource center. Previous Live, Learn and Play Center renovations include school libraries and the Children's Hospital of Michigan lobby. To learn more about our renovations, please click on the links below.

19. Historic Surroundings (Detroit 2008)
18. Ronald McDonald House (Detroit 2007)
17. Tay's Town Opens Its Doors (The Palace - Auburn Hills 2007)
16. Pistons and Shock Revovate Library at Will Rogers Elementary (Auburn Hills 2007)
15. Pistons, Shock and Rock Financial Unveil 15th Live, Learn and Play Center (Flint 2007)
14. Pistons Construct Hurricane Katrina Habitat Home (Auburn Hills 2007)
13. A Magical Act at Eton Academy (Birmingham 2007)
12. Pistons Put a Historical Twist on Halloween at Madison Middle School (Pontiac 2006)
11. Pistons Open Live, Learn and Play Center in State Capital (Lansing 2006)
10. Swin Cash and Detroit Shock Open Resource Center at Ferguson Academy (Detroit 2006)
9. Detroit Pistons Hold Court at Children’s Hospital (Detroit 2006)
8. Rasheed Wallace And Detroit Pistons Open Resource Center at Kettering High (Detroit 2006)
7. Rip City Foundation and Detroit Pistons Open Resource Center at Burns Elementary (Detroit 2006)
6. NBA Dedicates Reading and Learning Center During NBA Finals at Grant Elementary (Detroit 2005)
5. Detroit Pistons Open New Reading and Learning Center at White Elementary (Detroit 2005)
4. Pistons Open New Reading and Learning Center at Cornerstone Schools (Detroit 2004)
3. Pistons Open Teen Resource Center at Detroit Public Library (Detroit 2004)
2. Detroit Pistons Hold Grand Opening at Grayling Elementary (Detroit 2003)
1. Detroit Pistons Unveil Inaugural Reading and Learning Center at PAL (Detroit 2002)

The Detroit Pistons and their Read to Achieve sponsors celebrated the first annual “March is Reading Month” Book Drive in 2002. Since then more than 100,000 books have been collected and donated throughout the state. This year, the Pistons and FOX2 are teaming up once again for literacy. Books collected throughout the month at participating sponsor locations will be donated directly to local elementary schools.

The Detroit Pistons announce that “March is Reading Month” and will host a month-long book drive and sell limited-edition Pistons-themed t-shirts from Made in Detroit to raise money for Pistons-Palace Foundation reading and literacy programs.