Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson encouraging Valley students to read more

PHOENIX — Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is tackling the literacy problems among children in Valley schools.

The Patrick Peterson Foundation for Success held an assembly at San Marcos Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon to kick off his “Pick up a Book” program.

The three-time Pro Bowler has challenged dozens of Valley schools to read at a least 100,000 combined minutes. Every child tracks their progress online, and the school with the most minutes wins a pizza party hosted by the Cardinals cornerback.

“We have to get them young,” said Peterson. “Statistics show that if a child can’t read by the end of the second grade, he or she will really struggle.”