FULLERTON, Calif.  – Cal State Fullerton is proud to announce Jersey Mike’s Fullerton/Brea as the official sponsor of Titan Tales for the 2014-15 academic year.

Titan Tales is one of the largest community outreach services that Titan student-athletes take part in, a program started by Marketing and Promotions Coordinator Becca Dobbs. The program puts Cal State Fullerton student-athletes right into the heart of Orange County elementary schools in an effort to promote the importance of reading, and the impact good reading habits will have on young students’ lives.

In addition, this year, Jersey Mike’s Fullerton/Brea, will provide each student the Titans visit with a free kids’ meal card. 

“Giving back to the communities we serve has always been a huge part of the Jersey Mike's culture since the beginning, starting with the very first store which opened in 1956 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey,” Clarissa Palomaria, owner of Jersey Mike’s Fullerton/Brea said. “As a franchisee, it was one of the key reasons I chose to join Jersey Mike's Subs and open a store of my own.  It shows our customers we care and appreciate being accepted as a member of the community.  It gives us an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many.”

Titan student-athletes read to the youngsters in a classroom setting and then talk to them about what it is like to go to college, how to balance school and sports, and how attending to Cal State Fullerton has positively affected their lives.

“It is so exciting to hear the news that Jersey Mike’s is partnering with Cal State Fullerton Athletics for Titan Tales,” third-year softball head coach Kelly Ford said. “It is an amazing program that benefits the youth in our community as well as enriches the experience for our Cal State Fullerton student-athletes.  Our players light up when they talk about their experience with reading to the elementary school students.  It is truly a magical program that we are proud to be a part of.”

As a whole, Cal State Fullerton student-athletes completed 1,470 hours of service from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, which included monthly Titan Tales appearances.

"Our women’s soccer players absolutely love participating in Titan Tales,” eighth-year women’s soccer head coach Demian Brown said. “The opportunity to give back the community and interact with young Titan fans is amazing.”

The Cal State Fullerton men’s and women’s cross country teams recently made the first Titan Tales trip of the year, visiting Beechwood Elementary last Friday.

“I am very proud to sponsor and be a part of a program where Cal State Fullerton student-athletes take the time to meet, read to, and inspire elementary school students,” Palomaria said. “I feel college athletes have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children by inspiring them to achieve success in both athletics and academics. When I heard about the Titan Tales program, I thought it was the perfect fit for Jersey Mike's Subs.  It's a program that allows student-athletes to give back to the community which is directly in line with the Jersey Mike's culture.  I'm also looking forward to the exposure the program will offer Jersey Mike's since there are still so many families who have never heard of Jersey Mike's Subs or are aware that there is a newly-opened store in Fullerton. I'm excited to see all the new faces coming into Jersey Mike's when the students come in to redeem their coupons for a free kids’ meal.”

For information about Titan Tales and currently available dates, please contact Becca Dobbs at titantales@fullerton.edu