LSU to host Fight for Literacy Game on December 9th
Baton Rouge, LA (November 16, 2018) - LSU Men’s Basketball and Head Coach Will Wade are set to host a Fight for Literacy Game sponsored by International Paper.
Coaching for Literacy’s (CFL) Fight for Literacy Games bring coaches, players, and fans together in a common cause: ensuring America’s children can read.
The Tigers will host their Fight for Literacy Game on December 9th when LSU welcomes the Cardinals to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The game will tip-off at 1:00 P.M. CST with televised coverage scheduled for the SEC Network.
To raise awareness about the issues connected to illiteracy, the LSU coaching staff will wear Coaching for Literacy’s Green for Literacy awareness kit, showcasing a green tie provided by Peter Millar as well as a green lapel pin and wrist band.
“The stats show only 26% of 4th graders in Louisiana are reading at the proficient level,” said LSU head coach Will Wade. “International Paper’s sponsorship of Coaching for Literacy’s Fight for Literacy Game initiative provides hope that we can change the statistic & create brighter futures for children through the power of literacy.”
TIGER FANS CAN GIVE THE POWER OF LITERACY TO LOCAL STUDENTS
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 74% of 4th graders in the state of Louisiana are not reading at the proficient level.
International Paper and LSU Men’s Basketball are working to change this statistic and invite Tiger fans to get involved in the statewide Fight for Literacy.
Fans can make a flat donation or donate for each assist the Tigers record over a four game stretch from December 9 - December 21. To donate today visit: www.pledgeit.org/tigersforliteracy.
To promote the importance of reading at grade-level by the end of 3rd grade International Paper will donate $3 for each use of the hashtag #IP4Literacy. For promotion guidelines and additional details, please visit www.coachingforliteracy.org/promotion-rules.
100% of all funds raised will remain in Louisiana and will enable positive impact at the following: Big Buddy Program (Baton Rouge), Central Elementary School (Bogalusa, LA), Fairview Alpha Elementary School (Campti, LA), and Mansfield Elementary School (Mansfield, LA)
To volunteer with participating literacy programs in Louisiana please register at coachingforliteracy.kindful.com/register/volunteer.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
65% of American fourth graders are not reading at grade-level. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
85% of juveniles in the court system cannot read. (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, U.S. Department of Education)
Illiteracy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion annually in non-productivity among the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue. (National Council for Adult Learning, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor)
ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY
Thanks to the support of its partners, Coaching for Literacy has conducted 103 Fight for Literacy Games funding over 75 literacy projects across more than 20 communities in 16 states and directly impacting over 10,000 children. The mission of Coaching for Literacy is to use the power of sports to raise awareness about the problem of illiteracy and generate financial support for literacy programs nationwide.
To learn more about how you can make a difference for literacy efforts in your community, visit coachingforliteracy.org.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PAPER
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, Russia and India. International Paper produces corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication.
International Paper is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and employs approximately 52,000 colleagues located in more than 24 countries. Net sales for 2017 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, their products, and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.
For Immediate Contact:
Coaching for Literacy - Annabella Sills - annabella@coachingforliteracy.org - 601.447.5679
