Ole Miss Hoops Once Again Partners With Coaching For Literacy

With the support of C Spire, Coaching for Literacy (CFL), Ole Miss Men’s Basketball and head coach Andy Kennedy are partnering together for the fourth straight year to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and generate funds for Mississippi-based literacy initiatives.
The Rebels join over 20 NCAA programs in the effort, including fellow SEC members: Mississippi State University, University of Alabama and Vanderbilt University.
Ole Miss will host a Coaching for Literacy Awareness Game this Saturday when the Rebels take on the Missouri Tigers at the Pavilion. The game will tip off at 2:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
“Both our student body and fans will enjoy participating in this initiative,” Kennedy said. “Ole Miss is proud to partner with Coaching for Literacy and C Spire to raise awareness about the problem of illiteracy.”
Last year’s effort involved over 1,000 Ole Miss students and raised $13,000 for Mississippi literacy efforts.
Funds will be generated by a raffle coordinated by the Coaching for Literacy Ole Miss Collegiate Chapter – a group comprised of 30 University of Mississippi students.
All students who make a $10 donation will have a chance to win two all-access passes for the Ole Miss-Missouri game, which include courtside seats, locker room access, attendance for the postgame press conference, autographed memorabilia, a picture with Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy and college specific attire provided by CFL partner Peter Millar.
Funds raised will support Mississippi literacy programs: the Leap Frog Program, Barksdale Reading Institute and the Mississippi Children’s Museum.
“C Spire is proud to partner once again with Coaching for Literacy and Ole Miss Athletics to bring attention and financial support to a critical issue impacting our students – illiteracy,” said Jim Richmond, vice president of Marketing for the Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services company. “We know that this joint effort will benefit our community today and for generations to come.”
Ole Miss Athletics invite all fans to join the effort by following Coaching for Literacy on Twitter @coachingforlit and using the hashtag #CSpire4Literacy. For every tweet with #CSpire4Literacy, C Spire will donate $1 to Mississippi literacy initiatives. For promotion guidelines and additional details, please visit https://www.coachingforliteracy/olemissexperience.
To learn more about how you can join the Ole Miss Rebels and Fight for Literacy in your community, visit www.coachingforliteracy.org.
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)

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.
“We are incredibly thankful for C Spire’s support in involving Ole Miss fans this year,” said Ryan Viner, executive director of Coaching for Literacy. “Because of C Spire, the Ole Miss athletic department and Coach Kennedy, more people will know the importance of literacy and how to be a part of the solution.”