{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Williamsburg Pizza Hut manager receives company's 'Book It! Champion Award' &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tom0SE9yCU\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/williamsburg-pizza-hut-manager-receives-companys-book-champion-award\/\">Williamsburg Pizza Hut manager receives company&#8217;s &#8216;Book It! Champion Award&#8217;<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/williamsburg-pizza-hut-manager-receives-companys-book-champion-award\/embed\/#?secret=tom0SE9yCU\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Williamsburg Pizza Hut manager receives company&#8217;s &#8216;Book It! Champion Award&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"tom0SE9yCU\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Team-Willy-for-web.jpg","thumbnail_width":450,"thumbnail_height":218,"description":"Pizza Hut restaurants have been working to improve reading literacy among America\u2019s children through its \u201cBook It\u201d program for more than 30 years. The company recently recognized Shannon Barman, general manager of the Williamsburg Pizza Hut who received the \u201cBook It! Champion Award\u201d for her and her store\u2019s commitment to the program. Barman burst into tears of joy as Jim Gandy, Regional Vice President of Rage Inc., the Williamsburg Pizza Hut owner, told Barman that not only was she a finalist for the award, but that she had won the award. \u201cYour commitment to the kids and your commitment to the team makes us incredibly proud to have you part of our organization,\u201d Gandy said. Barman was initially left speechless, but eventually managed to get out a few words. \u201cOh, my Lord!\u201d Barman said. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it.\u201d Barman gave credit to her crew, known throughout the area as \u201cTeam Willy.\u201d Barman said the name began approximately four years ago. \u201cIt has never been about myself. It has always been about my team.\u201d Barman said. \u201cEverything that I have done, without them I am nothing.\u201d One of the team members said the feeling is mutual, explaining the team members refer to Barman as \u201cmama.\u201d The Book It program is open to students in grades K-6. Teachers set a monthly reading goal for each child in their class. The goal, which is based on the student\u2019s reading ability, may include reading a set number of books, pages or minutes. When a student reaches that goal, they receive a Reading Award Certificate recognizing the accomplishment. The certificate may be brought to Pizza Hut to be redeemed for a free personal pan pizza. Barman said when a student comes into the Williamsburg store with the certificate; Team Willy works to make it an experience. \u201cWe shine the spotlight on the achievement,\u201d Barman said adding the goal is to empower the students and make them feel special so they want to continue to read and learn and grow. \u201cIn reality, that is what I wanted as a kid,\u201d Barman said. Barman has been the store\u2019s general manager for five years and one of the first things she asked about when she came on board, was becoming more involved in the community, Gandy said. \u201cShe has incorporated her team members into the community,\u201d Gandy said. In addition to Book It, Gandy said Barman has the store involved in the \u201cShop With a Cop\u201d program, raising money to help fund it. \u201cWhat keeps us going is each other and our community,\u201d Barman said. Barman will receive a $1,000 cash prize and will be travelling to the company conference in Phoenix, Arizona on May 9 to formally receive the award. &nbsp;"}