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Boston Celtics rookie point guard JD Davison stopped by the Regional Medical Clinic in Greenville on Tuesday to help kick off the summer reading program, Reach Out and Read-Alabama.

Davison, a Letohatchee native, graduated from The Calhoun School in 2021. The 6-foot-3, five-star recruit went on to play one season for the University of Alabama before being selected by the Celtics with the 23rd pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Reach Out and Read-Alabama, a nonprofit funded by private donations, began 13 years ago and was started to help encourage families to read together.

“In addition to helping families support positive social emotional development, Reach Out and Read-Alabama providers also create a space where the families we serve foster healthy brain development and create strong bonds that last a lifetime,” Melinda Gibson, certified registered nurse practitioner and Reach Out and Read-Alabama program site coordinator, said.

This is the second year Greenville has participated in the program.

The program focuses on children ages six months to five years. Every time a child goes in for a wellness check-up, the participating office will give them an age-appropriate book for their parent or caregiver to read to them.

Greenville’s Regional Medical Clinic has given away a total of 1,600 books so far in 2022. 

Gibson spoke about the book selection for the gathering, “Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival. The book is about a happy young girl named Ruby. One day she finds a worry. It was small at first, but it grew larger and larger each day, until it was enormous. The worry was the only thing Ruby could think about. But with the help of a new friend, Ruby is able to get rid of her worry.

“When we talk about our emotions, we are better able to handle them,” Gibson said in reference to the story. 

Gibson introduced Davison and told him, “All these kids just came out to meet you.”

Davison, accompanied by his mother, Katrina Davison, smiled and nodded.

The two-time recipient of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s “Mr. Basketball” honor, sat next to his mother and listened as she read the story of Ruby and her worries.

At the conclusion of the story session, the attendees were served pizza and cookies.

The Regional Medical Center is located at 300 North College St. in Greenville. To contact the center, call (334) 382-2681 or search for the center via the Internet.