Mississippi State Basketball Teams Up with Coaching for Literacy in the #Fight4Literacy Presented by International Paper
January 25, 2021 | Athletics, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's and women's basketball teams and head coaches, Ben Howland and Nikki McCray-Penson, will host #Fight4Literacy Games presented by International Paper to promote childhood reading and raise funds for local literacy work. The women's team will host their game on Thursday, January 28, and the men's team will host their game against Iowa State on Saturday, January 30. The coaching staff will wear #Green4Literacy lapel pins and wristbands in support of the #Fight4Literacy in the state.
Approximately 68 percent of students in the state of Mississippi aren't reading at grade-level. All funds raised through the #Fight4Literacy will give local kids crucial literacy training to combat this statistic.
As the presenting partner of the #Fight4Literacy, International Paper Company has guaranteed a $10,000 donation to literacy programs in Mississippi and will match all donations up to $5,000. In communities across the country, International Paper and Coaching for Literacy will donate more than $300,000 to help children become better readers.
In addition, local businesses and restaurants are invited to join the #Fight4Literacy Week as an extension to #Fight4Literacy Games as a way for communities to rally around literacy. Participating businesses will raise awareness about the issue of illiteracy and donate a portion of sales to literacy programs in Mississippi.
Fans can join the Bulldogs by pledging to donate per assist during the 4-game window following each team's #Fight4Literacy game. For every $10 raised, Coaching for Literacy (CFL) can provide two books to local kids. To learn more about the women's team's efforts: pledgeit.org/msstatewbbfflw2021. To learn more about the men's team's efforts: pledgeit.org/ms-state-mbb.
ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY
Thanks to the support of its partners and Americans nationwide, Coaching for Literacy has conducted over 150 #Fight4Literacy Games with more than 70 NCAA teams. Their work generates crucial awareness and has provided over $375,000 to fund over 118 literacy projects supporting more than 20,000 children nationwide. 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 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 and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ more than 50,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2019 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
· 66% 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)