International Paper Commits To Second Year in the Fight for Literacy

International Paper teams up with Coaching for Literacy to provide young students in six states the fundamental skill they need to be successful: literacy. 

Memphis, TN - (9.4.2018) - In celebration of International Literacy Day, International Paper announced that they are continuing to support Coaching for Literacy’s Fight for Literacy Games initiative to benefit school children from kindergarten to 3rd grade. 

During Fight for Literacy Games, partnering coaching staffs wear the color green to promote literacy awareness across the country.

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. 

“Only 36% of 4th graders in the United States are reading at the proficient level,” said Coaching for Literacy executive director Ryan Viner. “International Paper’s sponsorship of the Fight for Literacy Games initiative provides hope that we can change the statistic and 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 Jaden, a rising 3rd grader in MTR Camp, a summer education initiative in Memphis. During five weeks of camp, he received valuable literacy instruction from trained coaches and read books like The Secret Garden provided through the support of International Paper.  

Fight for Literacy Games equip young students with the literacy tools they need to be successful.

“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. “The expansion of the program to six states promises to deliver more positive outcomes for students like Jaden in communities where our employees live and work.”

Coaching for Literacy’s 100% Impact Promise ensures each donation made by the general public will provide a direct, positive impact in the lives of aspiring readers at MTR Camp. To join International Paper in support of local literacy work through this season’s Fight for Literacy Games please visit www.fightforliteracygames.org. 

Sources: Annie E. Casey Foundation – www.aecf.org

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 - info@coachingforliteracy.org - 901.410.3633

Dream Big Book Drive Greatly Impacts Community

Each year since 2012, Book Harvest has marked MLK Day with a community-wide celebration of diversity, literacy and books for all children : The Dream Big Book Drive! On January 15, 2018, we gathered at Durham Central Park to enjoy fabulous entertainment, participate in games and creative family activities, meet some of our favorite mascots, and of course donate lots of books and prepare them to be shared with our community's kids! 

We collected 43,172 books, we served and celebrated alongside 802 fellow community members, we led 82 book drives in anticipation of the big day, and we raised $60,400 from 66 generous sponsors! 

Book Harvest's annual Dream Big Book Drive is inspired by Dr. King's vision of a world in which every child has the chance to realize his or her full potential. Book Harvest works all year to help children build home libraries with books they love and support families in achieving their family goals. Learn more and get involved at www.bookharvestnc.org! 

SMU Basketball Helps 90 Kids in Summer reading Program

Students who don’t get reading support during the summer lose two months of skills during their break from school. That’s why Readers 2 Leaders provides six weeks of high-dosage tutoring to 90 West Dallas students each summer. This year, students in our programs actually gained four months of skills! They will go back to school ready to learn, and a $1,409 gift from Southern Methodist University Fight For Literacy game fundraising helped make that possible.

Fight For Literacy donors’ support helped children like Kharma, a rising 5th grader in 2018’s Team Read Summer Camp. During the six weeks of camp, she made crafts and read mystery books like The Secret Garden.

“I feel like I got better in reading this summer! I learned how to sound out words and I improved in spelling. Every time I left I would tell my cousin about what I learned and now she wants to come next year!”

Kharma started the summer at Tier 3, more than a year behind grade level. Because of her hard work and the help of her instructor and Reading Buddies, Kharma ended summer at Tier 1, meaning she will start 5th grade on level and ready to excel!

Readers 2 Leaders serves students throughout the year with high-quality reading tutoring that helps them catch up to grade level. We thank Peter Millar, Coaching For Literacy, and all our partners for believing in Dallas’s young readers and making sure they have the help they need to thrive.

500 Families Receive Books in Tallahassee

With a vision that all children be prepared for success in school, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region (ELC) is making moves with their early childhood literacy program called My First Books. The program was originally created to ensure that any and every child who entered their offices would leave with a children’s book from one of their “Word Gardens”. Soon, it became very clear that not all children would ever cross paths with their programs or services and ELC needed to continue their efforts outside their doors and into the communities they serve.

This year, ELC was honored to have been a partner with Coaching for Literacy and the Florida State University’s Men’s Basketball Team. The partnership allowed for an opportunity to expand awareness and access to early childhood reading in the Tallahassee community during the annual Word of South, a free, music and literature festival.

Because of the $1,466.31 that was raised, ELC was able to sponsor providing more families with copies of children’s books that were written and illustrated by authors and artists who were being showcased at the festival. Families would enjoy presentations of children’s books and works throughout the park. After, they would be directed to the Early Learning Coalition’s tents, where they would be greeted with a new book, a pillowcase printed with the words, “Read to Me My First Books” and the opportunity to meet and have their books signed by the authors and illustrators themselves.

Initially, parents wondered about the books with the pillowcases, but they soon realized a pillowcase is the last thing a child sees before bed. What an easy way to remind the parent and the child that bed time is a great time to read their new book or any book. The ELC believes all children deserve to have access to their own little library of books, but they also believe that families, as a whole, need to understand the importance of reading and reading often, while keeping it engaging and fun!

Over 500 families came by the Early Learning Coalition tent the day of the festival. A number that could not have successfully been reached without this amazing partnership. A huge thank you goes out to Coaching for Literacy for its mission and vision and to FSU Men’s Basketball for trusting the process. The  ELC is honored to have been chosen to further spread literacy love in the Big Bend Region.

International Paper Presents Coaching for Literacy’s Fight for Literacy Game With the Memphis Tigers

Memphis, TN (3.1. 2018) –  On February 11th, the Memphis Tigers Men’s Basketball team hosted the UCF Golden Knights. The contest on the floor was joined by a contest off the floor: the fight for a more literate America.

Per a recent report by the Commercial Appeal, only 21% of third-grade students in Memphis tested proficient in reading last year. On Sunday, International Paper, Memphis Men’s Basketball, and Coaching for Literacy teamed up to change that statistic by hosting a Coaching for Literacy Fight for Literacy Game.

The importance of literacy was highlighted by the attendance of International Paper’s special guests for the game: students and teachers of a local literacy organization, Memphis Teacher Residency.

“Our teachers work very hard with a bright group of young students,” said Hayley Moore, development director for MTR. “It was very gratifying to see them recognized on the court for their effort to achieve academic success”

INTERNATIONAL PAPER SCORES A BIG WIN FOR LITERACY EFFORTS

Thanks to International Paper and Memphis basketball fans, Coaching for Literacy’s Fight for Literacy Game initiative with the Memphis Tigers netted nearly $8,000 for Memphis Teachers Residency’s MTR Camp, a summer learning initiative aiming to reduce learning regression.

“Literacy experts agree that reading over the summer is crucial to literacy growth, yet children in low-income households will fall behind their wealthier peers by three months, on average, in reading level each summer," said David Montague, executive director of Memphis Teacher Residency. "The funds raised from International Paper and Memphis Basketball fans demonstrate the collective power to affect change for the common good."

Although a Tigers game at the FedEx Forum is typically dominated by the color blue, this matchup featured Coaching for Literacy’s signature Green for Literacy apparel, worn by Head Coach Tubby Smith and the entire Memphis coaching staff. Nearly 1,000 International Paper employees joined in by sporting green shirts to reinforce the importance of reading at grade-level by the end of third grade.

“In order to truly move the needle on illiteracy in Memphis and nationwide, we must have global leaders, like International Paper, advocating for young students,” said Memphis Head Coach Tubby Smith. “International Paper’s sponsorship of the Fight for Literacy Games initiative provides hope that we can create a brighter future for children through the power of literacy.”

INTERNATIONAL PAPER INVESTS IN LITERACY TO CREATE BRIGHTER FUTURE

“International Paper is a force for good,” 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 Memphis and in other communities where our employees live and work.”

The Memphis-based producer of fiber-based packaging, pulp, and paper works hard to create value for generations to come.

While the end of the basketball season will bring a well-deserved break on the court, Memphis Men’s Basketball will begin their literacy efforts off it with International Paper employees. They will join together to read with students at MTR Camp this summer.

“The entire effort comes full circle when our partners read with the students they supported”, said Ryan Viner, executive director of Coaching for Literacy. “We must all follow the lead of International Paper and Memphis Basketball, asking ourselves, ‘how am I using my platform to Fight for Literacy’?”

ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY

Coaching for Literacy is partnering with more than 40 NCAA programs in this season’s Fight for Literacy Games initiative.

Thanks to the support of sports teams and generous donors, Coaching for Literacy has funded over 50 literacy projects across 20 communities in 11 states directly impacting 8,000 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.

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, India and Russia. 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, TN. 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 - Trey Carroll - trey@coachingforliteracy.org - 901.410.3633