Reading with Ribby

The Program

Founded in 2004 by local Fuller Elementary School teacher Jon Gemmell, the mission of Reading with Ribby is simple: to foster a life-long love of reading. Each Spring, the SwampBats’ mascot Ribby the bat goes into local elementary schools to kick off the program. The challenge: read for 20 minutes a day on 18 different days. The program runs for about six weeks and allows plenty of time for students to achieve reading success. Each student is supplied with a bookmark to track their progress. Students who successfully complete this program are given a complimentary t-shirt, a free family admission pass to a SwampBats game in June, and a kick start to a life-long habit: daily reading.

Program Dates: In 2026, the program will run March 9th - April 10th. 

READING WITH RIBBY CELEBRATION NIGHTS 2026

----> Kickoff video: Reading with Ribby 2026

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS