On Monday, the Cowboys hosted a unique event at Gabe Allen Elementary School in Dallas starring cornerback Brandon Carr and former NFL player and best-selling author Tim Green. The concept was to encourage kids to “PLAY 60” – exercise your body for 60 minutes – in order to “READ 20” – exercise your mind by reading.
The morning started out with an outdoor PLAY 60 clinic, facilitated with help from Cowboys employee volunteers, football players from local Pinkston High School and members of the Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association – an organization of Cowboys player, coach and executive wives and significant others.
Following the clinic, the “READ 20” portion of the event took focus. With help from Carr, Green read aloud to students a chapter from his newest book Kid Owner – a story about football, family and lessons learned through the many ups and downs we call life.
Green ended on a cliffhanger (will Ryan ever get to play football?!), to the students’ groans. But Green had a surprise.
Every student received their own signed copy of Kid Owner! (You never saw so many kids pumped about reading!)
Monday’s event was a reward for Gabe Allen students completing their “Reading Blitz Challenge” – a six-week reading program that incorporates exercise and playtime. A growing number of studies link regular physical activity with better academic performance for kids; students who play and exercise are more apt to stay focused and learn better.
Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association members have been champions of this concept, spearheading the Reading Blitz program and reading to students regularly at Gabe Allen Elementary. As part of Monday’s event, Brill Garrett – wife of head coach Jason Garrett – joined Carr and Green in congratulating the Reading Blitz program’s top five readers.
A special day with a great goal to get kids taking care of both body and mind. Green added a third concept of importance, character. He left students with this challenge:
“Find someone who is different than you – someone who comes from a different background, has a different religion or someone who is sick or lonely or sad,” he instructed. “Seek that person out, and say something kind to that person. Invite them to sit with you at lunch, or tell them what a great job they did on that spelling test. Something kind. That is your homework.”
Healthy bodies, healthy minds, healthy spirits. An inspiring goal for us all!