On September 1st, students at Almond Elementary School participated in a special kick-off event sponsored by the Auto Club Speedway.  Speedway President Gillian Zucker and Speedway Mascot “Lefty” launched Lefty’s Fall Reading Challenge to a library full of enthusiastic students and teachers.  It's all part of Auto Club Speedway's efforts to lead the charge to celebrate "National Book Month" in October by encouraging area students to read - and what better place to jumpstart the challenge than at the Home of the Pacers!

Lefty’s Fall Reading Challenge, open to all San Bernardino County Elementary Schools, comes not only with the satisfaction of learning, but also with a $5,000 donation to two elementary school libraries and a school pizza party courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen. The $5,000 awards and pizza parties will be based on 1) the school with the most students completing their reading challenges and 2) the school with the highest percentage of students completing the challenge.  Winning schools will be announced Monday, October 4th.

Along with Ms. Zucker and “Lefty”, Almond Elementary School Principal Karolee Rosen, California Pizza Kitchen Regional Director Ken Borsuk and CPK General Managers Jill Chrivia and Irina Fink were all on hand for the special announcement.  During Ms. Zucker's chat with the students, she shared that as a child she spent so much time reading that her mother had to make her go outside and play.  "And nothing has changed", she said. "I still love to read and still carry a book in my purse wherever I go!"

Throughout the month of September, participating schools, like Almond Elementary, will encourage their students to complete reading assignments with the guidance of their teacher or school librarian during Lefty’s Fall Reading Challenge.  At the end of the month participation will be verified by both Auto Club Speedway and the school.  Auto Club Speedway and California Pizza Kitchen officials will present a check to the two winning schools during pre-race ceremonies of the CampingWorld.com 300 NASCAR NNS race on Saturday, October 9.

In addition, upon completion of the reading assignments students will receive:  a certificate of completion; one complimentary ticket for a parent or guardian to the CampingWorld.com 300 on Saturday, October 9th; one complimentary membership to Lefty’s Kids Club that gets kids 12 and under free to NASCAR Qualifying Day on Friday, October 8th and the CampingWorld.com 300 on Saturday, October 9th; and a complimentary CPKids meal at participating California Pizza Kitchens.

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