Alabama Men’s Basketball to Partner with Coaching For Literacy Wednesday Night vs. Missouri
1/16/2017 6:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Crimson Tide staff to wear green ties to help promote awareness
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball head coach Avery Johnson and the Crimson Tide program will partner with Coaching For Literacy (CFL) in Wednesday's game vs. Missouri as part of a nationwide initiative to fight for Literacy. The Tide coaching staff will wear green ties and lapel pins to help generate awareness for the cause.
Coaching for Literacy works with a number of sports teams nationwide to generate awareness about the importance of literacy and its impact on social issues such as employment, crime and poverty.
The Crimson Tide joins a host of NCAA programs in the effort, including fellow SEC members: Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
Coaching for Literacy has funded over 50 literacy projects across 20 communities in 11 states. To date, 7,610 children have received direct literacy support because of the program.
"We are honored to add Alabama and Coach Johnson to our team," said Ryan Viner, executive director of Coaching for Literacy. "We know that our partner teams and coaches can give a voice to so many students who do not have one."
Johnson has diligently worked in years past to make a positive impact on middle and high school youth. He has spoken to over 100,000 students, encouraging them to make good choices in life and stay in school.
"Literacy is an issue effecting so many in our community and nationwide," said Johnson. "Our staff and program wants to do everything in our power to better the future, including encouraging our fans to actively participate in this cause."
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
- 64% of fourth graders are reading below the proficient level. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
- Literacy can help reduce the rate of crime in all of our communities. 85% of juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system cannot read. (US Department of Justice)
- Literacy can help America's debt and everyone's wallets. Illiteracy costs businesses and taxpayers $200 billion annually and adds $230 billion annually to healthcare costs. (Communities in Schools)
Alabama Athletics invite all fans to join the effort by following Coaching for Literacy on Twitter @coachingforlit and using the hashtag #Tide4Literacy.
To learn more about how you can join the Crimson Tide and Fight for Literacy in your community, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org.
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