International Paper teams up with Coaching for Literacy to provide young students the fundamental skill they need to be successful: literacy.
In celebration of International Literacy Day, International Paper announced that they are supporting Coaching for Literacy’s Fight for Literacy Games initiative to benefit school children in Alabama from kindergarten to 3rd grade.
International Paper is set to contribute $500,000 to generate literacy awareness and provide critical financial support to advance the work of effective local literacy programs. International Paper will sponsor six Fight for Literacy Games during the 2018-2019 NCAA men’s basketball season with the following teams: Alabama, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Memphis, and South Carolina.
“What an incredible gesture by the International Paper Foundation,” said Alabama men’s basketball coach Avery Johnson. “It’s so big on so many different levels. Only 29% percent of 4th graders in Alabama are reading at the proficient level. Thanks to the generosity of International Paper’s sponsorship of the Fight for Literacy Games, this initiative will create brighter futures for children through the power of literacy.”
Last season, International Paper’s Fight for Literacy Games with LSU and Memphis men’s basketball helped children like Kelly, a rising 3rd grader in Baton Rouge’s Big Buddy Program. During six weeks of summer literacy camp she made crafts and read books like The Secret Garden provided through the support of International Paper. The expansion of the program to Alabama and six total states promises to deliver more positive outcomes for students like Kelly.
“Thanks to generous donors and partners, we supported a summer reading initiative in Memphis and provided valuable books and materials to four literacy projects in Louisiana,” said Dr. Alissa Campbell Shaw, executive director of the International Paper Foundation. “We are thrilled to mobilize our people, products, and resources to support literacy efforts in communities where our employees live and work.”
Coaching for Literacy’s 100% Impact Promise ensures each donation made by Alabama fans will provide a direct, positive impact in the lives of aspiring readers at Alberta Head Start (Tuscaloosa, AL), Brantley Elementary School (Selma, AL), and F.S. Ervin Elementary School (Pine Hill, AL). To join International Paper in support of Alabama based literacy work through this season’s Fight for Literacy Game with the Alabama men’s basketball team please visit www.fightforliteracygames.org.
Sources: Annie E. Casey Foundation – www.aecf.org
