Arizona Cardinals Corey Peters Knows Reading is FUNdamental

They say reading is fundamental and Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters, who graduated from Michigan University with a Master’s in Education, is embodying that message perfectly. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Peters saw fit to spread his love of reading and use it to uplift others during this difficult time.  To provide a source of recreation for high school students in Arizona, Peters created the Corey Peters Playbook, a virtual book club via Zoom a segment of his Peters Educational Enrichment Project, which galvanizes the passion of learning to local youth. 

Teaming up with powerhouse publishing company Scholastic, Peters provided three books Looking for Alaska by John Green in which protagonist Miles Halter embarks on a quest for adventure, realizing along the way that the relationships we forge can deeply have an effect on us, Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork and Dear Martin by Nic Stone, a heartbreaking look at the unjust and despicable racism that exists for young unarmed African American men in America, free of cost to each participant.

The book club kicked off its inaugural session this past Wednesday, June 10th, starting off on a light note discussing students’ future hopes and aspirations, with Peters ending with words of encouragement and guidance on how to deal with the trying times in our lives.   Peters and participants discussed the book the opening chapters of the acclaimed book Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, which chronicles teen Marcelo Sandoval affliction with a disorder akin to autism and his journey of immersion into the “real world”.  Along the way, Marcelo learns a lesson of how we can create great change (no matter how insignificant it may seem to us) from negativity, a vital message we can all glean and enact in our own lives.

Sessions will continue each subsequent Wednesday and those wishing to participate are encouraged to visit https://forms.gle/kRL1o8gZE3GGyMo16  to sign up.  Participants of this book club will not only glean a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the books they will be reading, but they will also ponder and mull over the more profound lessons in life.

A leader in every sense of the word, it is no surprise that Peters has been named team captain, been inducted in his alma mater the University of Kentucky’s Hall of Fame, and supports his teammates both in on the fields in their careers and off the field by participating in their respective charities.  

Peters has always been one to turn a negative into a positive and has always given back in any way he can.  Throughout his long and successful career, Peters has utilized his platform to help others and promote change, garnering him the Ed Block Courage Award, which recognizes NFL players for their contributions in the community.  

Whether it be taking students on a shopping spree during the holidays, guiding young kids as part of the NFL’s Huddle for 100, making the Thanksgiving season a little brighter for elementary school students, showing appreciation to veterans, taking kids to the aquarium. reading to toddlers at a daycare center and so much more, Peters does everything with heart.  He is an absolute shining star with a heart so pure and giving!  They say a book is a gift you can open and open again and Peters is not only a gift to the NFL, but to the world!