Whereas, Reading aloud to children is the single most important activity that you can engage in to ensure that children have a great start in life; and,

Whereas, The Reading Day for Athletes (RDA) program was started in Dickinson County seven years ago by three high school students who wanted to give something back to their community and to encourage reading and literacy in the local schools; and,

Whereas, These student-athletes gave up their lunch hours, study halls, and hours in the evening in order to read to the young students in their area schools; and,

Whereas, Realizing that the student-athlete is looked up to as a role model to the younger students, the three decided to expand the program by recruiting fellow athletes and coaches to participate and be a part of something special, and now the program thrives thank to the hard work of the program founders; and,

Whereas, The program has now expanded to every school district in Dickinson and Iron County and with the program a huge success in the Upper Peninsula, it is now possible for RDA to be a huge success throughout the entire State of Michigan; and,

Whereas, It takes caring students-athletes, coaches, and members of the media to take part, take responsibility and read to the young students of Michigan; and,

Whereas, Through RDA, it is possible to encourage reading and reduce illiteracy, one young mind at a time; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of May 16, 2005, in Michigan, and I encourage all citizens to recognize the importance of reading aloud to our young students.