Ex-Raven Torrey Smith Opens Reading Room For Baltimore Students

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore is still the city that reads. That's how one former Raven sees Charm City.

Gigi Barnett explains wide receiver Torrey Smith visited one city school to help teachers spark a love of books in students.

An open book, read by former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith. His audience--kindergarten students at Friendship Prepatory Academy in West Baltimore.

"You guys have this cool new room here. You can check out the books," Smith said.

Smith is in San Francisco now, playing for the 49ers. He traveled from the West Coast to open this reading oasis for students. It's a gift from his foundation.

"I don't play here, but this is home for me and it changed my life. We're very much still committed to the city. Better readers and writers become better students and better leaders. It's a base for everything," he said.

Smith brought his son, Torrey Jeremiah, and his wife, Chanel, to help open the reading room.

He teamed up with several retailers to create the gift that includes more than 1,200 books for the charter school.

"When they opened the door today, what a wonderful surprise it was just to have all the beanbags and the carpet and the hundreds of books that are in this reading room. It's just amazing, and our students cannot wait to get in here," said Principal Martia Cooper, Friendship Prepatory Academy.

This is the third reading room the wide receiver has opened this year--and many more may be on the way.

"The students, they just need the resources and our help. And some of questions that I was asked today just proves that our future will be OK as long as we help lead them in the right direction," Smith said.

All together, Torrey Smith's foundation has created five reading rooms in Baltimore City schools.

Smith teamed up with a long list of stores, including Walmart, Papa John's, Pepsi and PwC to create their reading oasis.