James Earl Jones Shares the Joy of Reading at CityParks Kids Event

James Earl Jones Shares the Joy of Reading at CityParks Kids Event

Children Also Enjoy Music and Storytelling Performance by Guy Davis - 'Roots of the Blues'

Presented by City Parks Foundation and Verizon Yellow Pages

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- While there was still no joy in Mudville, more than 300 Harlem-area children did enjoy Tony-award-winning actor James Earl Jones' reading of "Casey at the Bat" today during a free CityPark Kids event.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060803/NYTH151 )

CityParks Kids is a program of City Parks Foundation, presenting free music, dance, readings, storytelling, puppet and theater performances in parks across New York City. Verizon Yellow Pages funds the CityParks Kids' readings and storytelling series, encouraging children to enjoy reading and learning all summer long.

"Reading inspires the imagination and empowers children to dream and learn," Jones, a Yellow Pages Literacy Champion, said. "I've always loved reading. That's because when you open up a book, you never know where you'll be going -- or what you'll find."

Following the special appearance by Jones, renaissance bluesman Guy Davis presented "Roots of the Blues," a performance combining music and storytelling for kids. Today's event took place in Morningside Park at 123rd Street and Morningside Avenue.

The CityParks Kids' readings and storytelling series presents, free of charge, professional storytellers and authors to nearly 10,000 children in 46 city parks, sharing diverse performances that speak to our various New York communities. The program encourages literacy and education in a fun and exciting format for New York City children in under-served neighborhoods who are eager to improve their own language, arts and reading skills. Local libraries often participate in the program and encourage kids to get library cards. Verizon Yellow Pages has funded this program for six years, donating more than $230,000 during that time.

Jones appears on behalf of Verizon Yellow Pages' literacy initiatives and believes strongly in the power and joy of reading. Jones is well known for his stage and film roles as well as voice work in notable projects including "The Lion King" and "Star Wars," and performances in "The Great White Hope," "Fences" and, most recently, "On Golden Pond" on Broadway.

About Verizon Directories Corp.

Verizon Directories Corp., a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), is the second largest yellow pages directories publisher in the United States. Products include Verizon Yellow Pages; print white pages; SuperPages.com; and, SuperPages On the Go information directory.

About City Parks Foundation

City Parks Foundation works in over 700 parks citywide, presenting a broad range of free arts, sports and education programs and helping citizens to support their parks on a local level. Its programs and community-building initiatives reach more than 600,000 people each year, contributing to the revitalization of neighborhoods throughout New York City. Visit www.CityParksFoundation.org for detailed CityParks Kids schedule information or call (212) 360-8290.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060803/NYTH151
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Phil Craft of City Parks Foundation, +1-212-360-8162; or Andy
Shane of Verizon Yellow Pages, +1-214-498-4915

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

NOTE TO EDITORS: For photographs from the event, please contact Andy Shane at 214/498-4915 or andrew.shane@verizon.com.

-------
Profile: intent