SerpApi.Org
One by one, 23 children stepped off a yellow school bus outside the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Pembroke Pines expecting another summer reading outing.
Instead, cheers and smiles came from the group as LaTavia Carey, co-founder of the Carey Family Foundation, told them they would each have hundreds to spend on back-to-school supplies.
The surprise, in collaboration with Dick’s and the foundation, rewarded students who competed the summer reading program at the Carver Ranches Boys & Girls Club.
The summer reading program, in its third year, is organized and run by the Carey Family Foundation, including former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Vernon Carey.
The foundation partnered with Dick’s to give each child $300 to shop for shoes, clothes and other school essentials on Monday, July 20. The foundation contributed $150 per student, with the store matching that amount.
“This summer is my third year doing a reading program in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club, and I just thought this would be great as a reward for them for doing so good this summer with me,” LaTavia Carey told the Pembroke Pines News.
The event, held on the first day of Florida’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, was organized to help ease the financial burden that a new school year often brings to families.
“Times are hard for everybody, so us being able to bless these kids with a little bit of help for their parents for school, they maybe can get ... some essentials so that’s why we do this every year for back to school,” LaTavia Carey said.
The Carey Family Foundation focuses on creating programming that is meant to encourage the improvement of kids through educational and recreational activities.
LaTavia Carey has been a teacher in Broward County for about four years and said the students read “Junie B. Jones’ Toothless Wonder” by Barbara Park over six weeks.
She said the students answered reading comprehension questions each week and participated in games designed to keep their literacy skills sharp over summer break.
Compared to previous years, LaTavia Carey said this year’s group was more involved.
“This summer I was very surprised,” she said. “Usually when I do it, the kids just kind of sit there and let me read to them. But this year the very first week, they were like, ‘Can we read?’ So I was very encouraged and very happy to see how passionate they were.”
Nine-year-old Priya Gay said the shopping spree showed her that hard work pays off.
“It feels like if you do all the right stuff, then you get rewarded,” she said before heading off to look for shoes.
Her older sister, Zyanya Gay, who will soon start sixth grade, said the biggest surprise wasn't the shopping spree.
“I’ve never been here so I thought that it was just athletic stuff, but when I actually got inside, I got so excited,” she said. “[And when LaTavia Carey] was like, ‘And your budget is $300.’ I was like, ‘$300? 300 is like crazy.’”
Rising fourth grader Janaya Ceant said she noticed her reading significantly improve throughout the program.
“It was actually good because my reading skills ... got better,” she said. “I didn’t know we were gonna basically have the whole store to ourselves.”
As a former professional athlete, Vernon Carey said the relationship with athletics and academics helps kids strive to be their best.
“It helps them push themselves to, you know, go farther, so I think it does go hand in hand,” he said.
The students’ shopping carts filled with a variety of back-to-school essentials. Popular items included sneakers and Stanley cups.
Broward County Public Schools students are set to head back to campus for the 2026-27 academic year on Monday, Aug. 10.
Vernon Carey said he hopes the lessons from the summer extend well beyond the first day of school.
“Just be resilient,” he said. “Keep pushing and you can achieve anything you want if you’re willing to fight for it.”
