University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Memphis Basketball to Team with Coaching for Literacy
Mar 01, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Memphis, Tenn. - Coaching for Literacy (CFL), Memphis men's basketball and head coach Tubby Smith partner together in the nationwide Fight for Literacy for the third consecutive season.
The Memphis Tigers join 25 other NCAA programs in the initiative and will host a Coaching for Literacy Awareness Game on Thursday, March 2nd. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT at the Fed Forum. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
To promote literacy awareness in the community, the Memphis coaching staff will wear green – the official color of the Fight for Literacy.
Coaching for Literacy works with sports teams nationwide to generate awareness about the importance of literacy and its impact on social issues, such as employment, crime and poverty.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
JOIN THE TIGERS IN THE FIGHT FOR LITERACY
Memphis Athletics and head coach Tubby Smith welcome all fans to support literacy awareness by following Coaching for Literacy on Twitter @coachingforlit and using the hashtag #Tigers4Literacy.
"Coaching for Literacy's work has provided a great deal of support to the Memphis community," said Coach Smith. "We are honored to help raise literacy awareness and directly impact literacy rates in Memphis."
To learn more about how you can join the Tigers in the Fight for Literacy in your community, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org. To view CFL's schedule this season, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org/schedule.
LAST YEAR'S SUCCESS
Thanks to the support of Memphis Athletics and generous CFL donors last season, $1,700 was allocated to STREETS Smart, an after-school reading program of Streets Ministries.
"Through our STREETS Smart program, we pair volunteers with elementary students to focus specifically on literacy skills," said Reggie Davis, executive director of Streets Ministries. "We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Coaching for Literacy to support literacy efforts in our city."
ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY
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. To date 7,610 children have received direct literacy support because of the program.
"Memphis Athletics was one of our initial supporters in the Fight for Literacy," said John Wilfong, chairman of Coaching for Literacy. "Coach Smith and the entire coaching staff have been integral in helping promote literacy awareness both in Memphis and throughout the country."
The Memphis Tigers join 25 other NCAA programs in the initiative and will host a Coaching for Literacy Awareness Game on Thursday, March 2nd. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT at the Fed Forum. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
To promote literacy awareness in the community, the Memphis coaching staff will wear green – the official color of the Fight for Literacy.
Coaching for Literacy works with sports teams nationwide to generate awareness about the importance of literacy and its impact on social issues, such as employment, crime and poverty.
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
- 64% of fourth graders are reading below the proficient level. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
- 85% of juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system cannot read. (US Department of Justice)
- Among adults at the lowest level of literacy proficiency, 43% live in poverty. Among adults with strong literacy skills, only 4% live in poverty. (US 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. (US Department of Labor)
JOIN THE TIGERS IN THE FIGHT FOR LITERACY
Memphis Athletics and head coach Tubby Smith welcome all fans to support literacy awareness by following Coaching for Literacy on Twitter @coachingforlit and using the hashtag #Tigers4Literacy.
"Coaching for Literacy's work has provided a great deal of support to the Memphis community," said Coach Smith. "We are honored to help raise literacy awareness and directly impact literacy rates in Memphis."
To learn more about how you can join the Tigers in the Fight for Literacy in your community, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org. To view CFL's schedule this season, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org/schedule.
LAST YEAR'S SUCCESS
Thanks to the support of Memphis Athletics and generous CFL donors last season, $1,700 was allocated to STREETS Smart, an after-school reading program of Streets Ministries.
"Through our STREETS Smart program, we pair volunteers with elementary students to focus specifically on literacy skills," said Reggie Davis, executive director of Streets Ministries. "We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Coaching for Literacy to support literacy efforts in our city."
ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY
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. To date 7,610 children have received direct literacy support because of the program.
"Memphis Athletics was one of our initial supporters in the Fight for Literacy," said John Wilfong, chairman of Coaching for Literacy. "Coach Smith and the entire coaching staff have been integral in helping promote literacy awareness both in Memphis and throughout the country."
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