Earlier today, the Yankees continued their eighth annual HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) by recognizing the organization Barbershop Books and its founder, Alvin Irby.
On Thursday, Yankees players CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Mark Teixeira, and Ronald Torreyes, along with hip-hop artist Fat Joe, visited Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop in Harlem where they helped Alvin read to and interact with a group of young children from the Promise Academy I Lower Elementary School. The group then had lunch together at a nearby Harlem Children’s Zone site.
The history of Barbershop Books: www.barbershopbooks.org:
In 2014, Alvin Irby had the simple idea of creating reading areas in barbershops to provide access to books that would engage young children of color. The former kindergarten and first grade teacher wanted to help youngsters develop a healthy habit of reading on their own with the hope of it becoming an ingrained part of their lifestyle as they grow up. Irby’s dreams materialized with the creation of Barbershop Books – a community-based literacy program that creates child-friendly reading spaces for children ages 4-8 in barbershops.
