The Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Royals Foundation are happy to announce the launch of the Royals Literacy League (RLL).

The program was announced in front of a group of fourth-grade students from Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Kansas City. Check out their reaction when they learn that Vinnie Pasquantino will be their classroom champion for the rest of the school year!

The Royals Literacy League is a program designed to build excitement around reading and literacy in primary-aged school children in public schools in Kansas City. Literacy is a growing problem in the Kansas City area, as only 21% of third graders in the city’s public district and charter schools are reading on grade level. Literacy level is a primary indicator of high school graduation.

In partnership with the Sherman Family Foundation and SchoolSmartKC, the pilot phase of this program will team Royals players, who will serve as Classroom Champions, with 18 classrooms from nine schools. See Vinnie’s full video.

And, if you head out to the Outfield Experience, you'll see the love for literacy has made its way into the park as well. There, you'll find our latest installation, The Royals Crown Collection Library -- a Royals-inspired community library; before Opening Day, it will be complete with books stocked by Turn the Page KC. These are also installed at the nine pilot schools and at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.

This initiative is an example of true collaboration across the Club, with Community Impact and Pine Tar Collective working hand-in-hand, alongside an advisory group of community stakeholders, since last summer to develop what is now the Royals Literacy League. In the coming months, employees will hear about ways they can help support the program and our efforts to help children find a love for reading.