Jaguars running back Greg Jones, a rookie from Florida State University, attended a local kick-off of America's largest reading event, the NEA's Read Across America program on Wednesday, February 2nd at Ribault Middle School.

The Read Across America program is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place each year on March 2nd, the birthday of one of the world's most adored and well-known authors of children's books, Dr. Seuss. The principle behind this program is to create awareness and provide motivation for children to want to pick up books and read.

"I'm here to tell you that reading is important and can be fun," said Jones. "I read everyday." "I sat where you're sitting now and I didn't like reading when I was growing up; it was boring to me," added Jones. "What I figured out is I can read about things I like, things that I have a passion for, and I'm here to encourage you to do the same."

Students that attended the event met in the school's library where they were given the special privilege of meeting a Jaguars player, and hearing him talk about the importance of reading.

Read Across America teams up with many celebrities, athletes, city council members & other elected officials to recognize the role reading plays in our communities.

The National Education Association (NEA) was founded in 1857 to elevate the character and advance the interest of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of education in the United States.