Former Los Angeles Dodger Dennis Powell made a good pitch to San Bernardino students — reading is important.
Powell, an ex-pitcher, delivered his message about literacy by reading books aloud and helping to hand out free books.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell hands out free books Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to more than 185 students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Student Keanu Rivas listens Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, as former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell reads to students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell reads “Abuela” on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to more than 185 students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Kindergartners Moises Gutierrez, left, and Isabella Santamaria play with their new Dodgers caps Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, as they wait for former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell to read at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Second grader Alahaney Martin smiles Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, after receiving a Los Angeles Dodgers T-shirt and cap before former Dodger Dennis Powell reads Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell poses Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, with more than 185 students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino after reading to them. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ex-Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell reads “Abuela” to students Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell reads Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell autographs a book for fourth grader Zahir Vasquez on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Monique Osorio reacts Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, after her daughter Evelyn Fernandez, 1-1/2, comments during a group photo with former Los Angeles Dodger Dennis Powell at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ex-Los Angeles Dodger Dennis Powell reads “Abuela” on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to more than 185 students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
First grader Cataleya Ramirez poses for the cameras behind former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. Powell read to students during the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s literacy program, staged in partnership with Think Together and Yuhaaviatam of the San Manuel Nation. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Dennis Powell hands out free books Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, to more than 185 students at Norton Science and Language Academy in San Bernardino. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Powell’s visit with youths at Norton Science and Language Academy, a San Bernardino charter school, came Thursday, Nov. 6.
Along with the storytime, the nearly 200 kids between kindergarten and fifth grade enjoyed new white Dodgers T-shirts and blue caps. Powell, clad in a white Dodgers jersey with his old number, 48, matched the children well.
The event was hosted by the nonprofit Think Together, which provides after-school programs in the Inland Empire and across California, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a news release states.
It was part of LA Reads, the foundation’s literacy campaign, the release states.
