Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU is Building Readers and Leaders with the 2nd & 7 Foundation
9/25/2013 2:00:00 PM | General
Eastern Michigan and the 2nd & 7 Foundation help "Tackle Illiteracy"
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Expectations are high for student-athletes at Eastern Michigan University. Dedication to one's sport, studies and overall involvement with the Ypsilanti community are all part of the privilege of being an Eagle. By donning the Green and White, EMU student-athletes become role models for children across the region.
To continue to further make a difference in the lives of children, the EMU Department of Athletics has partnered with the 2nd & 7 Foundation out of Columbus, Ohio to be a part of the "Tackle Illiteracy" program. The mission of the 2nd & 7 Foundation is to help promote literacy by providing free books and positive role models for kids in need.
Beginning Friday, Sept. 27, and running every Friday throughout the academic year, EMU student-athletes will be visiting local elementary schools, reading to kids, handing out books, and reminding the second graders why reading is so important. They also use the themes in the Hog Mollies books to reiterate valuable life lessons.
The program was started with a desire to give back to the community by former Ohio State University football players Luke Fickell, Mike Vrabel and Ryan Miller. The three volunteered at different events throughout the city while playing football at OSU and wanted to continue to make a difference in children's lives.
"We are grateful to the 2nd & 7 Foundation for not only the creation of this impactful program, but their willingness to let EMU student-athletes be a part of the continued efforts to tackle illiteracy in our community," said Heather Lyke, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan. "Ryan Miller, Mike Vrable and Luke Fickell are wonderful examples of how to give back to the community and we appreciate their foundation for providing us over 700 books to distribute to second graders in Ypsilanti. We are also happy to learn that Ryan's father, Dennis Miller, is a proud 1972 Eastern graduate."
"We are excited Eastern Michigan has adopted the 2nd & 7 Foundation as part of their continued effort to build winners on and off the field," added Ryan Miller. "Growing up with a father that is an EMU grad and a brother (Gordon Miller) that played quarterback for the Eagles, it makes me proud to see the student-athletes at Eastern Michigan embrace this leadership opportunity in the Ypsilanti area by promoting reading to young children."
The 2nd & 7 Foundation began with the founders reading and distributing books to seven groups of second graders in Columbus City Schools. Over the years, the demand for readers increased and Fickell, Miller and Vrabel decided to see if student-athletes from their alma mater could lend a hand.
Founded in 1999, the 2nd & 7 Foundation continues to enter new territory. After handing out thousands of books all over the city, the founders decided to dive into the publishing industry themselves and wrote their own book.
"The 2nd & 7 Foundation has created a fantastic program and we are excited to expand its reach into the Ypsilanti community," mentioned Erin Burdis, EMU Assistant Athletics Director for Academics. "Our student-athletes are eager to be role models for our local second grade students. I am so grateful for the efforts of Ryan and the entire 2nd & 7 Foundation. Their vision and desire to give back will really make a difference in our community."
Through the collaboration of many, The Hog Mollies and the Pickle Pie Party were written as series of books focusing on the elements of success. The books stress teamwork and the importance of working together.
While the 2nd & 7 Foundation has roots in Columbus, the "Tackle Illiteracy" program has expanded outside of Central Ohio. Additional schools who have adopted the program include: Bowling Green State University, Florida Atlantic University, North Carolina State University, the University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina and the University of Toledo.
More information about the 2nd & 7 Foundation is available at: www.secondandseven.com.
To continue to further make a difference in the lives of children, the EMU Department of Athletics has partnered with the 2nd & 7 Foundation out of Columbus, Ohio to be a part of the "Tackle Illiteracy" program. The mission of the 2nd & 7 Foundation is to help promote literacy by providing free books and positive role models for kids in need.
Beginning Friday, Sept. 27, and running every Friday throughout the academic year, EMU student-athletes will be visiting local elementary schools, reading to kids, handing out books, and reminding the second graders why reading is so important. They also use the themes in the Hog Mollies books to reiterate valuable life lessons.
The program was started with a desire to give back to the community by former Ohio State University football players Luke Fickell, Mike Vrabel and Ryan Miller. The three volunteered at different events throughout the city while playing football at OSU and wanted to continue to make a difference in children's lives.
"We are grateful to the 2nd & 7 Foundation for not only the creation of this impactful program, but their willingness to let EMU student-athletes be a part of the continued efforts to tackle illiteracy in our community," said Heather Lyke, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan. "Ryan Miller, Mike Vrable and Luke Fickell are wonderful examples of how to give back to the community and we appreciate their foundation for providing us over 700 books to distribute to second graders in Ypsilanti. We are also happy to learn that Ryan's father, Dennis Miller, is a proud 1972 Eastern graduate."
"We are excited Eastern Michigan has adopted the 2nd & 7 Foundation as part of their continued effort to build winners on and off the field," added Ryan Miller. "Growing up with a father that is an EMU grad and a brother (Gordon Miller) that played quarterback for the Eagles, it makes me proud to see the student-athletes at Eastern Michigan embrace this leadership opportunity in the Ypsilanti area by promoting reading to young children."
The 2nd & 7 Foundation began with the founders reading and distributing books to seven groups of second graders in Columbus City Schools. Over the years, the demand for readers increased and Fickell, Miller and Vrabel decided to see if student-athletes from their alma mater could lend a hand.
Founded in 1999, the 2nd & 7 Foundation continues to enter new territory. After handing out thousands of books all over the city, the founders decided to dive into the publishing industry themselves and wrote their own book.
"The 2nd & 7 Foundation has created a fantastic program and we are excited to expand its reach into the Ypsilanti community," mentioned Erin Burdis, EMU Assistant Athletics Director for Academics. "Our student-athletes are eager to be role models for our local second grade students. I am so grateful for the efforts of Ryan and the entire 2nd & 7 Foundation. Their vision and desire to give back will really make a difference in our community."
Through the collaboration of many, The Hog Mollies and the Pickle Pie Party were written as series of books focusing on the elements of success. The books stress teamwork and the importance of working together.
While the 2nd & 7 Foundation has roots in Columbus, the "Tackle Illiteracy" program has expanded outside of Central Ohio. Additional schools who have adopted the program include: Bowling Green State University, Florida Atlantic University, North Carolina State University, the University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina and the University of Toledo.
More information about the 2nd & 7 Foundation is available at: www.secondandseven.com.
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