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by WSYX/WTTE
Tuesday, June 23rd 2020
COLUMBUS
-- The 2nd and & 7 Foundation had its popular summer football camp derailed
by Covid-19 but the virtual alternative has been a hit.
"I think we've had more
attention there than the physical camp," 2nd & 7 co-founder Ryan
Miller told ABC-6 Tuesday. "I'm sure it's not quite the four-hour running
around and sweating like the normal camp but I'm glad kids are engaged."
The 2nd and 7 Foundation was started in
1999 by three former Ohio State Buckeye football players—Ryan
Miller, Luke Fickell, and Mike
Vrabel. Inspired by their involvement in various community outreach
programs as student-athletes, they decided to continue to make a difference by
promoting literacy and providing positive role models for children in central
Ohio.
"We've seen the numbers and
literacy puts kids so much further ahead and being able to achieve in
school," Miller added.
Over the past 20 years, the program has grown to 180 communities in 26
states. The “Tackling Illiteracy” program encourages student-athletes
from universities and high schools across the nation to participate in weekly
readings in second-grade classrooms. While in the classrooms, they are reading
to the kids, passing out FREE books for the kids to take home and reminding the
kids why it is so important to read.
The 2nd and 7 Foundation created a
book series called the Hog Mollies; each book teaches valuable life lessons. In
2020, 2nd & 7 released the 13th book in the series!
Student-athletes
from universities and high schools across the nation are a huge part of our
program. They are out in the schools each week, reading to kids, handing out
books, and reminding the 2nd graders why reading is so important. They also use
the themes in the Hog Mollies books to reiterate valuable life lessons.
