Rays 3B Evan Longoria to read to youth at Bradenton library Friday

For the fifth consecutive year, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will kick off the “Reading with the Rays” summer reading program when he reads to youngsters at the Downtown Central Library in Bradenton, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd., at 11 a.m. Friday.

Suncoast Credit Union and the Rays are in the ninth season of Reading with the Rays-Read Your Way to the Ballpark, an incentive-based reading program that encourages pre-K to seniors to avoid summer learning loss by reading for 24 hours during the summer.

Participating libraries track student progress and award prizes for reaching certain goals, including two free tickets to a Rays game. Reading with the Rays is active with public library systems in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Citrus, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Sarasota and Charlotte counties.

Information: 727-825-3242.

Herald staff report

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Rays 3B Evan Longoria to read to youth at Bradenton library Friday."