The Toronto Raptors are used to playing hard on the court, but they also keep up the pace off it -- especially when it comes to helping young people.

On Monday, members of the Raptors teamed up at Parkdale Public School in Toronto to promote reading as part of the Raptors Foundation for Kids "Read To Achieve" program. Players Joey Graham, new fan favourite Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Raps play-by-play commentator Matt Devlin visited a room full of excited Grade Seven students.

Their goal was to inspire young minds while emphasizing the importance of reading and education.

"The message that we have for these kids as far as reading is concerned is. 'Pick up anything, a magazine a newspaper, a book.' They might not see the big picture now but they'll see it in the long run," Graham said.

In awe of their tall presence, the tentative students paid close attention to the advice given by their NBA heroes.

 "As a basketball player, education is key. For us, you have to be able to bring your education along with your athletic ability or you won't be able to get on the court. It's all about what you put into it," Mensah-Bonsu said.

The Toronto Raptors have always given back to the community. The Raptors Foundation for Kids is the largest and most widely respected charity foundation in the NBA. Since its start in 1995, the foundation has successfully raised more than $17 million. That money has helped more than 5,500 charities across Ontario.

The foundation focuses on supporting at-risk youth through legacy projects in three primary areas.  Every year they build and refurbish basketball courts for communities across Ontario. Educationally, they have scholarship programs in place where they give grants to registered charities. 

The Raptors club hosted its 14th annual Red Party event at Muzik on the Exhibition grounds in downtown Toronto last month.  The party is one of the club's largest events of the year. 

The entire team including the coaches, management, sponsors and fans got the rare opportunity to mix and mingle throughout the evening, all to raise money for the foundation and celebrate its successes thus far. 

"Our players are great at giving back to the community. They don't want to just help us fundraise, they actually want to be a part of giving the money away. They often personally come out to the events so they can see first-hand the good that they're doing and meet the kids that they're impacting," said Lori Radke, the foundation's executive director.

As excited as the fans were to be a part of the night, the Raptors were equally as excited. 

"This is so much fun every year. I mean we get to spend time with our fans who we never get a chance to hang out with and we get to raise money for our foundation - so that's two great things," Raptors centre Andrea Bargnani said. 

Raptors star player Chris Bosh said being able to help kids is one of the best parts of his job. 

"It's very important to give back to the community when you're willing and able, whether it's money or time - we do both so it works out."

His teammate Anthony Parker agreed on the rewards of being involved in the foundation. 

"I have a kid of my own, so when we go to hospitals like Sick Kids and parents tell us that this is the first time their child has smiled in weeks or months, it really hits home," Parker said.

The Raptors are well aware of how many kids look up to them as role models. Bosh says whenever he gets the chance, he always tells kids exactly how it is and how it should be.

"Just work hard at everything you do, respect everyone, treat people like you want to be treated and have fun, but work at the same time."

With this type of support it is no doubt the Raptors Foundation for Kids has been able to help so many kids over the years.

And as Lincoln Alexander, former lieutenant governor of Ontario and chair of the foundation, put it: "As a result of us and our support, kids now have hope. Kids know somebody loves them, somebody's looking after them, and hoping that their every dream becomes a reality."