KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – While everyone else went through lesson plans in the classroom Monday, more than 3,000 area students got to skip out and meet Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the T-Mobile Center.

It was for the 15 and Mahomies Foundation partnership with Lead to Read KC. For the last five years, they’ve run a campaign to promote reading as a regular habit. In order to make the event, kids had to read 15 minutes daily.

Mahomes talked with the students about how reading will help them achieve their dreams.

“Reading is in every aspect of life. If you’re a quarterback, a doctor, whatever your dream, you’re going to have to read,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes read his family’s favorite book to the students, We’re All Weird.

Author Kristen Heath made a surprise appearance to help read the book to the kids. Heath is a Kansas City native and many of the kids were so familiar with her book, they echoed her reading aloud.

Patrick Mahomes reads to thousands of kids(KCTV)

One part that ushered in loud giggles; when Mahomes read the page about another star.

“The talented singer on the front page of the news would rather pass on the party to stay home and snooze,” Mahomes recited.

The Read For 15 campaign has worked with more than 20,000 metro students for the past five years.