LAKERS STAR SCORES POINT FOR LITERACY.

Byline: Mike Coit Daily News Staff Writer

GTE named Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant its literacy champion Wednesday, joining with a foundation Bryant formed to assist literacy programs.

Saying schools can't do it alone, GTE officials pledged to donate $100 for every point Bryant scores this season up to a maximum of $10,000.

``We think he will make a great role model for what we're trying to accomplish here,'' said John Appel, president of GTE Network Services. ``We think when literacy improves, everybody wins.''

Bryant, who skipped college to play professional basketball, started his own foundation a year ago to help with at-risk youth and said the partnership in the literacy program will help expand his efforts.

``When I graduated high school, I could have gone to any college in the country,'' Bryant said. ``Academics wasn't a problem because of my parents and what they taught me.

``What this does is help expand our programs and teach kids that knowledge is power. Not only book knowledge, but knowledge about life and what it takes to succeed. Once you have that, you can accomplish anything.''

Bryant said he was approached by GTE officials to be part of the program.

``I feel lucky they came to me and asked me to get involved,'' Bryant said. ``This is a way to help some kids get ahead in life.''

GTE has contributed to literacy programs across the nation for nearly a decade, including $60,000 to four San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley programs in the coming year.

Many of the same programs are supported by the National Institute for Literacy. Formed by an act of Congress in 1991, the institute supports early childhood education and adult literacy education, parent and child programs, and parent support programs.

``I don't think schools alone are going to solve this,'' said Andy Hartman, the institute's director. ``We believe that we really have to get whole communities involved in this effort.''

The area programs GTE is supporting include the California State University, Northridge Foundation's online freshman composition program, the Tierra Del Sol computer access program for the developmentally disabled, the Valley Family Center and the Antelope Valley College Foundation's reading challenge program.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this report.

CAPTION(S):

photo

PHOTO Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant autographs a jersey Wednesday at the Breakfast for Literacy event in Santa Monica.

Tina Gerson/Daily News