ORANGE PARK – Thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership, some Clay County kids have a new reason to read more books. Seven years ago, Jacksonville Jaguars fan Tim Odham of Orange Park, had a unique idea to get students at his local school to make that happen.

He hung around after team practices and begged for them to sign merchandise. Odham also had front row seats to the games where he would ask for signed game equipment. The players became so fond of Odham, they would clear out their lockers and leave items for him to take and use as prizes for students who are excelling at reading.

“Getting started reading early is going to benefit them for the rest of their lives,” said Odham.

Odham partnered with Mary Pat Callihan, media specialist at Orange Park Elementary, to give top readers rewards for their achievements in reading. It started with Jaguars player merchandise he collected and the program grew from there.

Callihan and the teachers kept track of the books being read, and Odham kept the prizes coming.

“This has been the most rewarding thing to have implemented, with Mr. Odham, because it’s interesting because if you don’t think that you can’t do it, you generally just go ahead and do it,” Callihan said.

In the past, students wrote letters to celebrities from their favorite books and movies, asking for prizes. They received prizes from J.K. Rowling, the PGA Tour, phone calls with authors, and airtime with local broadcasters. Odham formed community partnerships with businesses and sports teams all across Northeast Florida.

To keep the students humble, Callihan required them to write thank you letters to whoever provided prizes. The challenge takes place in the fall for most schools, while Orange Park Elementary continues through the winter.

Each school has different methods for awarding prizes, but all students take reading quizzes and teachers verify that students are indeed reading their books. The amount of words these students are reading are measured in thousands, and in some cases, the millions.

Over the 7 years, the reading challenge has grown exponentially. The program that began with two individuals at Orange Park Elementary, has swelled into a major program with 15 Clay County elementary schools participating. However, as the program grew, so did the rewards. Callihan wrote a grant submission to the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation. The foundation was equipped to take the incentives to a new level.

The foundation was so impressed with Clay County’s reading program, it awarded the schools 500 Jaguars tickets in 2016.

“Kids were excited – game day tickets are very hard to come by, even in our market,” said T-Nisha Tate, of the Jaguars Foundation. “It’s so exciting to see a whole county wrap around an initiative.”

The tickets are part of the stadium’s “Honor Rows” program, which highlights community achievement and provides participants reserved seating at Jaguars’ games. Jacksonville is the first team in the National Football League to provide a designated section of their seating for such causes.

According to Tate, this program is not only growing in local schools, but the concept of NFL-supported reading programs is spreading across the country. Teams in the league are partnering with their new teams, and taking Oldham’s and Callihan’s ideas with them. Former Jaguar Rashad Jennings, abruptly left the team in 2012.

Odham urged the players to take the idea for the reading program with him. Jennings listened, and helped start iterations of the program in California, New Jersey, Virginia and New York.

“I hope they can take my idea and use it,” said Odham “Please steal my idea.”

Clay County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis has thrown his support behind the elementary schools’ partnership with the Jaguars. He provided the funding required for transportation to and from Ever Bank Field in Jacksonville. Callihan and Oldham expect the number of donated tickets to grow this year, but the amount is still being determined. However, Clay County students are expected to attend the Dec. 3 Jaguars game against the Indianapolis Colts.

As the program continues to grow, it won’t be without a few changes. Callihan, the founding media specialist of the reading program, is retiring at the end of the upcoming school year.

“I really want someone to take up the mantle,” Callihan said, reluctant to take all the credit for the initiative.

The hard work and the unlikely collaboration of a librarian and a football fan, created something Clay County students can be proud of for years to come.

To keep the program going strong, Odham is urging anyone who wants to provide prizes or incentives for readers, to contact Callihan at the school.

“We want to show children, early, how to be good stewards of the community,” Tate said. “This is how we[students] set goals. There was a quote that said a ‘a dream is a goal, with a deadline’.”