Encourage reading and say no to drugs, Home Run Readers facilitate crossover collaboration. CTBC Bank, National Library of Public Information, Chinatrust Brothers baseball team, and CTBC Anti-Drug Educational Foundation co-hosted the "2019 Home Run Readers – Make Your Dreams Come True" event. From May 4 to July 31, readers who borrow books from 30 public libraries across 8 municipalities (including Taichung City) or from the mobile library will be able to receive a Chinatrust Brothers home game ticket in exchange. A total of 10,000 tickets will be given away. According to Deputy Mayor Chiung-ying Yang, it is hoped that the concept of reading and Home Run Readers will encourage the entire family to read together, in turn shaping Taichung into a city of readers.

Held for the 4th consecutive year, the annual press conference of "Home Run Readers – Make Your Dreams Come True" was convened today (29th) at the National Library of Public Information. Guests who turned out for the function include Deputy Mayor Chiung-ying Yang, MOE Department of Lifelong Education Deputy Director General Pao-yueh Yen, National Library of Public Information Director Zhong-cheng Liu, Chinese Taipei Baseball Association President Chung-liang Ku, CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd. CAO Jen-chieh Kao, Brothers Baseball Club Chairman Hsin-yang Chen, Chinatrust Brothers celebrity player Ssu-chi Chou, event ambassadors Wei-chen Wang, and Shu-i Lin. Ssu-chi Chou, Wei-chen Wang, and Shu-i Lin also led the children to read a picture book, demonstrating their down-to-earth, approachable personality.

Deputy Mayor Yang suggested that Taichung is not only a livable city but also a city of arts and culture, with the mountain, coastal, central, and urban areas all offering unique characteristics. For this year's Home Run Readers program, all 14 public libraries subsidiary to the City Hall have been incorporated, hoping to promote the concept of Home Run Readers through the combination of reading and baseball, so that the whole family will fall in love with reading and in turn transform Taichung into a city of readers.

Deputy Mayor Yang also mentioned that Mayor Shiow-yen Lu recently threw the first pitch at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium for the first home game of the Chinatrust Brothers and stayed to watch the entire game, demonstrating the City Hall's commitment and support towards baseball. She also thanked President Ku for choosing Taichung as Chinatrust Brothers' home ground, and the City Hall hopes to continue fostering baseball developments in Taichung in conjunction with the Chinatrust Brothers baseball team.

According to Chinese Taipei Baseball Association President Chung-liang Ku, the key attributes of baseball include building physical and mental toughness, broadening people's horizon with wisdom, and it is hoped that the combination of reading, baseball, and the anti-drug campaign will help people stay away from drugs, keep a habit of reading and exercising.

National Library of Public Information Director Zhong-cheng Liu elaborated that baseball and reading are the best means of maintaining a harmonious home. Parents reading with their children will be able to engage in deeper dialogues while watching a baseball game together as a family will facilitate the most natural family interactions.

CTBC Bank elaborated that "2019 Home Run Readers – Make Your Dreams Come True" will be held from May 4 to July 31, readers who have borrowed 3 books from participating libraries and provide excerpts from the books will receive a voucher for redeeming an infield ticket to the Chinatrust Brothers' home game. If you attend the anti-drug education exhibition or read anti-drug teaching materials at the National Library of Public Information and answer the anti-drug questions correctly, you will also receive a bonus gift in the form of celebrity player EasyCard sticker. For complete event information, please browse the official website (https://plisnet.nlpi.edu.tw/reading_homerun2019) or Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/HOMERUNREADERS/).