The Charlotte Sting opened a Reading and Learning Center and special reading timeout at the Henry L. McCrorey Branch YMCA on Tuesday, August 19. Several players, coaches and staff members from the Charlotte Sting were on hand to unveil the Reading and Learning Center in conjunction with Home Depot, Dell and the WNBA. Head Coach Trudi Lacey joined Dawn Staley, Allison Feaster, Andrea Stinson, Tammy Sutton-Brown and Kelly Miller in the special festivities. The Sting were also joined by members of the YMCA, local government officials and representatives from each presenting sponsor corporation.

"The Sting is pleased to help dedicate a new Reading and Learning Center at the Henry L. McCrorey Family Branch YMCA," said Steve Swetoha, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Sting. "This is a great example of how the WNBA family, the Sting and our partners continue to help instill a passion for reading in young people through our Read to Achieve initiative."

In an effort to provide reading materials to young people and as a part of the WNBA�s national reading campaign, Read to Achieve, the NBA, Home Depot, Dell and LeapFrog are partnering to create Reading and Learning centers in eight NBA & WNBA markets. The Charlotte site marks the first site exclusive to a WNBA team. The Henry L. McCrorey Branch YMCA�s new Reading and Learning Center was created through this partnership.

The community will benefit from the 1,000 books donated by the Charlotte Urban League and Charlotte Reads in addition to the educational materials and furniture donated by Cargokids and Staples. In addition to the donation of books, the facility will include computer stations, an interactive reading area and study stations. The Reading and Learning Center will also serve as a designated �reading timeout� area where Sting players, coaches and staff members can drop in and assist children with homework and teach them the importance of reading.

"I think it's a great investment by the Charlotte Sting, the WNBA and its partners in the youth of the area and the future development of the community,� said Keith Vinson, Executive Director McCrorey Family Branch YMCA. �It is wonderful to work with The Home Depot, Dell and LeapFrog, towards the betterment of our community.�

The WNBA�s Read to Achieve program is a year-round campaign designed to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly to 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. Efforts include the annual donation of more than 350,000 books through a variety of reading events and book fairs, as well as the development of essay contests and reading incentive programs. Read to Achieve is supported by the entire NBA Family including the NBA, WNBA and the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), the NBA's officials, parents and wives of players and the NBA Players Association and Retired Players Association.

For more information on the Charlotte Sting Reading and Learning Center, please contact the Sting Public Relations Office at (704) 424-4806.