Detroit Red Wing Justin Abdelkader Encourages Students to Read

To encourage Michigan elementary school students to read this school year, Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader will donate a pair of Red Wings tickets to each home game during the 2013-14 regular season. 

As part of the second annual Red Wings for Reading program, students who win will receive two tickets to the game, a pair of meal vouchers, a goody bag with promotional items and an autographed Abdelkader photo. Winning students will be recognized at the game as Abby’s All Stars.

"The program was a great success last year and I’m really looking forward to continuing my involvement," Abdelkader said. "The importance of education is a message I truly believe in, and I want to do my part to encourage reading among Michigan's elementary students. This program is a great way to motivate them and I hope this year we can get more kids excited about reading."

To enter, any Michigan elementary student between kindergarten and fifth grade must read three of Abdelkader’s favorite children’s books for their respective age group and then have their guardian submit an entry form, available at www.DetroitRedWings.com/reading, confirming that the child read those three books. 

Each participating student will receive a Red Wings reading fan pack, which includes a 2” x 7” two-sided bookmark featuring Abdelkader, a Red Wings sticker and a personalized certificate congratulating the student on reading all three books.

Kindergarten – Second Grade Books:
1. Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
2. Curious George by Margaret Rey and H. A. Rey
3. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Third – Fifth Grade Books:
1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
2. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The Red Wings will invite 50 students from the Michigan elementary school with the most entries each month to attend a team practice at Joe Louis Arena. In addition, Abdelkader will read at a school in March that had the most overall number of entries between Sept. 3, 2013 and Feb. 1, 2014.