BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's and women's basketball teams took to William Penn Elementary School in Bethlehem to participate in a Cops 'n' Kids reading program on Thursday morning.

The Cops 'n' Kids Children's Literacy Program is a national initiative founded by Julia Burney Witherspoon, a police officer from Racine, Wisconsin. In 2003, the program was formally adopted by Quota International of Bethlehem, establishing the Quota International of Bethlehem Charitable Trust Cops 'n' Kids Children's Literacy Program.

In Bethlehem, Moravian's student-athletes work closely with Beverly Bradley, President, Cops 'n' Kids Lehigh Valley. The Greyhounds' athletic teams do a number of events with Cops 'n' annually, and the basketball squads look forward to the time in January before classes for the spring semester begin when they visit several Bethlehem schools.

Cops 'n' Kids ensures that every child has access – in his or her home – to books and the knowledge, inspiration and hope that such access can provide. The program also encourages positive relationships between children and police while inspiring creative learning for children and families by providing meaningful literacy-based experiences.

The Moravian student-athletes take part in an assembly where they express their hopes for after graduation and what their favorite children's book is. The next stop for the Hounds is the classroom, where they read to students ranging from fifth grade to kindergarten. The Greyhounds take extra time to sign autographs and talk basketball before they leave.

To view a photo gallery of the program at William Penn Elementary click here.