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Educational Programs


Home Run Readers

Teachers and administrators can enroll in the Oakland A's Home Run Readers Program to work together in promoting the importance of literacy and encourage reading in the classroom. Help your students set reading goals and work toward exciting rewards.

The California Police Youth Charities (CPYC) is a proud sponsor of the Home Run Readers program in an effort to build relationships between the law enforcement community and California youth.

Home Run Readers

Students who achieve their goals receive:

  • Free A's giveaways
  • An entry into a drawing to be one of six schools visited by an A's player or coach
  • An invitation to the Oakland A's Home Run Readers Day at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

In 2009, over 120 Bay Area schools participated in the A's Home Run Readers program.

Class registration is now open until November 6, 2009.

Mathletics
Mathletics

The A's designed and distributed over 22,000 "Mathletics" workbooks which utilize simple formulas for calculating statistics of A's players to students in hopes to promote the importance of math among Bay Area youth. Students who complete the workbooks correctly and submit the answer sheet to the A's receive two ticket vouchers.

MathleticsKurt Suzuki at Glassbrook Elementary School in Hayward

In addition, one school that demonstrated outstanding participation in the program will receive a visit from an A's player.

Since the program's inception in 2003, over 135,000 Bay Area and Northern California students' grades first through eighth have participated. The "Mathletics" program is sponsored by Ross Dress For Less and Comcast SportsNet California.

Workbooks will be available in February 2010.

Bill King College Scholarship
Bill King College Scholarship

The Oakland Athletics Community Fund will award one scholarship to an undergraduate student that is majoring in journalism or broadcasting; the scholarship will be given for the 2010-11 school year. This $3,000 scholarship is intended for qualified tuition or required expenses such as fees, books, supplies and equipment for courses of instruction at a qualified educational institution. The recipient will possibly receive the opportunity to intern with the A's Broadcasting Department.

This scholarship has been established in memory of Bill King, long-time legendary Bay Area Sports Announcer. The purpose of this scholarship is to support a student who plans to pursue a career in journalism or broadcasting.

Student applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a full-time student in your sophomore, junior, or senior year at a college or university in the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Prove financial need, as evidenced by expenses and offset by other scholarships, loans, grants and other sources of supplemental aid.
  • Possess a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
  • Show a demonstrated strong interest in pursuing a career in broadcasting or journalism.

Each student must submit the following information to complete this application:

  • The attached Bill King College Scholarship form.
  • A 2-3 page essay explaining why you are a deserving Bill King Scholarship candidate.
  • Taking into consideration academic achievement and career goals.
  • Two letters of recommendations from non-relatives. One must be from a broadcast or journalism faculty member.
  • Official transcript from each college attended.

The 2009 - 10 scholarship winner is Justin Riray of San Jose State University.

Scholarship application coming soon

Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team

The Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST) is a partnership established in 1996 by the Oakland Athletics, Golden State Warriors, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks. This unique committee is the first of its kind in the realm of professional sports. Each team will honor these students during a special pre-game presentation at their individual venues.

$3,000 scholarships will be awarded to six successful students residing within the Bay Area's nine counties. All public high schools within the vicinity are provided detailed information about this scholarship opportunity.

All candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • College-bound senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Display leadership qualities in the classroom and/or inspirational qualities on the athletic field.
  • Demonstrate the value of education, good work ethic and community outreach.

The 2009 scholarship recipients:

  • Golden State Warriors: Tyrone Radford - Castlemont Business Information Technology School (Oakland)
  • Oakland A's: Malcolm Carson - El Cerrito High School (El Cerrito)
  • Oakland Raiders: Vincent Alvarez - San Rafael High School (San Rafael)
  • San Francisco 49ers: Kathleen Miller - Gilroy High School (Gilroy)
  • San Francisco Giants: Maggie Huang - Lowell High School (San Francisco)
  • San Jose Sharks: Brianna Mercado - Silver Creek High School (San Jose)

High school seniors in Contra Costa County and Solano County who are interested in receiving an application should contact Detra Paige at dpaige@oaklandathletics.com. All applications must be received by February 12, 2010. If you live outside these counties please see the list below and contact the appropriate team for an application:

  • Golden State Warriors:
  • Alameda County (except Oakland and Fremont)
  • Oakland Raiders:
  • Fremont, Napa, Marin, Oakland, Piedmont
  • San Francisco 49ers:
  • San Mateo County, Milpitas, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and Santa Cruz
  • San Francisco Giants:
  • San Francisco, Sonoma County
  • San Jose Sharks:
  • Santa Clara County (except Milpitas, Gilroy and Morgan Hill)