Students at the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School in Pelham Bay got to meet Knicks All-Star Julius Randle, who helped raise $880,000 in donations for the school’s literacy enhancement program.  

The program has already paid dividends for the school. Founder Dan Klores says there are already teachers on staff participating in the program with students thanks to the 30 for 3 program.  

“We were able to hire eight full-time literacy specialists,” said Klores. “One thing we saw at the beginning of last school year is students came in up to three grade levels below where they should be.  Because of the work our literacy team is doing we were able to raise those literacy levels.” 

The money came from Julius Randle’s pledge to donate $30 for every three-pointer he made in a Knicks uniform.  

“When I have big games, I’ve had a couple of games when I’ve made seven or eight three-pointers, I think ‘well, that money is going to a good cause’,” said Randle. “I get excited about that.” 

When a student asked if Randle would be back next year, he answered with one word – yes.