Read to Achieve
The most extensive community outreach initiative in professional sports, the Read To Achieve program is supported by every WNBA, NBA and NBDL franchise. The program strives to promote the value of reading and on-line literacy and encourages families and adults to read regulary to young children.

To accomplish the goals defined by this initiative, the Sting are involved in several different programs. In 2006, the Sting joined forces with the Charlotte Bobcats to create a Reading Corner at Reid Park Elementary. Decked out in orange and blue and furnished with chairs and bean bags, the Reading Corner is a place where students can go spend some quiet time with a book.

Another key component of the Read To Achieve program comes in the form of reading timeouts. Throughout the year, Sting players and front office staff make numerous visits to local schools, YMCA's and libraries to share stories with the children and talk to them about the importance of obtaining an education. Sting players and coaches have read to nearly 1,500 children throughout the Charlotte region.

Click here to learn more about the Read to Achieve program.

Breast Health Awareness
Since the inception of the league in 1997, the WNBA and its teams have worked to generate awareness and educate women on what can be done to fight breast cancer as well as raise funds to support this worthy cause. Their partner in these efforts is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

In Charlotte, the Sting support Breast Health Awareness by hosting an in-arena night at one home game each season. At this game, pink is theme for the evening. The players wear special breast health awareness t-shirts, breast health awareness information is distributed, breast cancer survivors are invited to participate in the in-game activities and a donation is made to the Komen Foundation.

The Sting also are proud supporters of the Komen Race For The Cure.

Get more information about this initiative here.

Be Smart - Be Fit - Be Yourself.
WNBA Be Smart - Be Fit - Be Yourself will encourage teens and women of all ages to learn more about their bodies and the importance of physical fitness. Programming has been developed to encourage teens and women to get started on �being fit� through small changes in their daily regimen.

The program will serve as a year-long �call to action� for teens and women to make a commitment to being fit and healthy. The official tip-off of the program will correspond with the start of each season. The content of the program will be communicated and delivered through vehicles including a Fitness Journal, �Team� of Spokespeople and National and Local Events and Promotion.

Learn more about this program here.

Sting Youth Basketball Network
The Sting have developed a Youth Basketball Network that seeks to create a fun and exciting basketball experience for the youth in the Charlotte community. The Youth Basketball Network places a high importance on teaching the fundamentals of the game as well as helping kids learn the value of discipline and sportsmanship.

There are numerous benefits for joining the network including the opportunity to participate in skill-building clinics and awards programs as well as the chance to attend select Sting games. Youth organizations throughout the region are invited to join the Youth Basketball Network.

Click here to find out more information.

Live Your Dream Network
The goal of the Live Your Dream Network is to connect Charlotte Sting players with outstanding female leaders in the Charlotte community. During the season, these influential women were asked to extend their professional, social and civic network to the Sting players. This creates an opportunity for players to be exposed to different career paths and to connect them in positive ways to the community. The network strives to help prepare the players for a life after basketball.