FIFTH THIRD BANK RETURNS AS BEACH BUMS READING PROGRAM SPONSOR

1/28/2010

Traverse City MI-- The Traverse City Beach Bums announced today that FIFTH THIRD BANK will return as the sponsor of the Beach Bums Reading Program.

“We are delighted to have FIFTH THIRD BANK back behind the reading program again this year,” said Beach Bums General Manager, Leslye Wuerfel. “The program has been a tremendous success its first four years and we expect it to continue to grow in the future.”

Started before the Beach Bums’ inaugural season in 2006, the Beach Bums' Reading Program has attracted more than 30 local elementary schools and over 9,600 students a year to ‘Read around the bases’. Students are given a poster in the shape of a baseball diamond to track their progress. As they read five books, students advance around the bases. The Beach Bums have upped the perks in 2010, awarding participating students their first chairback ticket voucher when they read five books and land on first base. Students are able to earn additional awards as they advance base by base. By reading 20 books, students hit a homerun and receive second chairback ticket voucher to a 2010 Beach Bums game, a free autographed poster of Suntan and Sunburn, a coupon for a free 16 oz. Pepsi product and a Beach Bums' Reading Program tote bag.

Posters and instruction sheets will be delivered to schools by the Beach Bums in February. Students will have until Friday, April 16, 2010 to reach their reading goal.