To celebrate National “Drop Everything and Read” Day on April 12 (or DEAR Day), two Shorter College baseball players decided they would help out at a local elementary school and give back to their community.

Senior Cliff Flagello and sophomore Garrett Raiden, both accounting majors at Shorter, asked their management professor, Dr. Robert Darville, what they could do in the community for volunteer work. Darville’s wife, Gayla, teaches kindergarten at Garden Lakes Elementary in Rome and knew the perfect day for the two athletes to come.

“Drop Everything and Read Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage kids to make reading on a daily basis a priority,” said Gayla. “It’s important for the kids to see at a young age that reading is something that stays with you throughout life. By having college athletes come and talk to them, they are able to develop role models they can emulate.”

Flagello and Raiden began reading to kids early in the morning, spending 15-minute intervals in classes throughout the school. Following the readings, they would answer any questions the kids had regarding reading and baseball.

“Kids need to see that having your education is the most important thing out there,” said Raiden. “Seeing how excited the kids were as we read really shows how much influence you can have on someone younger. It’s all about giving back.”

Earlier in the year, several Shorter baseball and softball players participated in Project Eagle at Garden Lakes Elementary, helping after school to teach the kids how to play various sports. They hope that by continually working with the kids that a difference can be made.

“The importance of reading doesn’t stop when you get older,” said Flagello. “Some of the kids see us on the field, in camps over the summer and throughout the community, so it’s important for them to see us in the classroom as well.”