One of Selma’s shining stars will return to his hometown this morning to stress the importance of reading.

Former Selma High School standout and current Oakland Athletic Jai Miller will host the Reading is Fundamental breakfast with Santa today from 10 a.m. to noon at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

In a a release from RIF, they stressed the importance of reading at a young age and support.

“While RIF’s Breakfast with Santa is a great vehicle for focusing attention on the literacy needs of our children, we know that it is going to take far more to create readers for the 21^st century,” the release said. “Therefore, we need more support, especially the kind that starts at home.  Our final plea, during this  Christmas season  is that the Reading Is Fun Program would like for all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers  to read with the children in their lives.  Together we can make reading an essential everyday part of every child’s life.”

While RIF’s Breakfast with Santa is a great vehicle for focusing attention on the literacy needs of our children, we know that it is going to take far more to create readers for the 21^st century.

Therefore, we need more support, especially the kind that starts at home.  Our finally plea, during this  Christmas Season  is that the Reading Is Fun Program would like for all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers  to read with the children in their lives.  Together we can make reading an essential everyday part of every child’s life.  For further information, please do not hesitate to   contact: Mrs. Latonia Wilson Thrash, RIF Program Director;  Mrs. Nancy G. Sewell, RIF Coordinator or Mrs. Juanda Maxwell, Chapter  President .

Miller, a 2003 graduate of Selma High School, was drafted out of high school by the Florida Marlins. He played for several minor league teams before making the Kansas City Royals roster where he got his first hit against the Detroit Tigers.

RIF is a national literacy program that is sponsored locally by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Zeta Eta Omega chapter in collaboration with the Selma City Council, Dallas County Commissioners and volunteer helpers from Selma’s Digital Divide AmeriCorps.

Parents are invited to bring their children out to eat breakfast and select some good books to read during the Christmas holidays.

In addition, children will have an opportunity to meet their favorite characters such as Clifford the big red dog, Franklin the turtle, Curious George and the big Green Monster.

Additionally, Santa helpers will have lots of surprises for the  boys and girls.

Each year, more than 240,000 parents, teachers, and community volunteers bring RIF books and engaging reading activities to more than 3.5 million American children served by local RIF projects.  During the Christmas Holidays, the RIF leaders offer children and their families a wonderful opportunity to celebrate literacy with reading challenges, book exchange and special story-time hours.

Studies have proven, time and time again, that children who read more read better.  The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress testing data shows that many children are not reading well enough to succeed in school.

The Reading Is Fundamental program encourages children to read more by mobilizing parents, teachers, and community members in a four-day celebration of reading.