July 9, 2021

In partnership with Cleveland Indians Charities, FirstEnergy helped gift 200 Scholastic Summer Book Packs to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO) at a June event promoting children’s literacy.

Fifty members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, ages 5 to 13, received a pack containing four books geared to their specific reading level, a bookmark and a UV ink pen. FirstEnergy also provided a book light to each child participating in the event.

Indians mascots Ketchup, Slider and Onion hand out book packs to excited children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Read and Play event.

“FirstEnergy is proud to partner with the Cleveland Indians and Scholastic Books to host the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s Read and Play event,” said Mark Jones, regional president, The Illuminating Company. “This is a great way to encourage children to read more often during the summer and have fun at the same time.”

CEI’s Mark Jones was onsite to greet kids attending the event.

Held at Broadway Boys & Girls Club, the event also included lunch and appearances by Indians mascots Slider & The Dogs.

“Academic success is one of the three pillars of Boys & Girls Clubs,” said BGCNEO President and CEO Jeff Scott. “This amazing partnership with Cleveland Indians Charities and FirstEnergy not only promotes reading and learning but does it in a way that is fun for our kids. Many of our young people struggled to bridge the digital divide during the pandemic, and this commitment by the Indians and FirstEnergy is very meaningful to a group of kids who are looking forward to getting back to the classroom.”

Kids who finish reading the four books in their book pack will receive two tickets to an Indians game and a raffle entry for a chance to win a new bike from the Boys & Girls Club.