WICHITA, Kan. -- Head Coach Gregg Marshall and the Wichita State Men's Basketball team are partnering with Coaching for Literacy (CFL) to raise awareness about the issue of illiteracy in America and provide support for young children struggling to read in Wichita.
 
The Shockers will host Coaching for Literacy's Fight for Literacy Games initiative on Thursday, Jan. 25 when the UCF Golden Knights visit Charles Koch Arena. The contest will tip-off at 8 p.m. CST with coverage on ESPN2.
 
Fight for Literacy Games bring coaches, players and fans together for a common cause: ensuring that our children can read.
 
To raise awareness about the issues connected to illiteracy, the Wichita State coaching staff will wear green Coaching for Literacy ties, provided by Peter Millar, as well as green lapel pins and wristbands.
 
Per the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 65 percent of fourth-graders in Kansas are not proficient in reading. Wichita State Men's Basketball is doing its part to help change that statistic and encourage fans to get involved.
 
"We know that if children are not literate by the end of third grade, their chances for sustained academic and life success diminish radically," Marshall said. "Our program is honored to partner with Coaching for Literacy to positively impact the future of young people in our community."
 
JOIN THE SHOCKERS IN THE LOCAL FIGHT FOR LITERACY
 
Fans can support young students in Wichita by pledging a donation for each assist recorded by the Shockers over a four-game stretch from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6. To make a pledge today visit: pledgeit.org/shockers.
 
All funds raised will benefit local children who take part in literacy programming through the Fundamental Learning Center in Wichita.
 
"Literacy experts agree that reading over the summer is crucial to literacy growth," said Kristin Bogner, director of marketing and communications for the Fundamental Learning Center. "Funds raised by Wichita State fans will give local children the ability to attend our summer literacy intervention camp, 'Reading Fundamentals.'"
 
Fans are also encouraged to sign up to volunteer with the Fundamental Learning Center by visiting coachingforliteracy.kindful.com/register/volunteer. 
 
IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY

• 64 percent of American fourth-graders are not reading at grade-level. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
• 85 percent 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)

 
ABOUT COACHING FOR LITERACY
 
Coaching for Literacy is partnering with more than 40 NCAA programs in this season's Fight for Literacy Games initiative.
 
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 directly impacting 8,000 children.
 
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 get involved in the nationwide advocacy work of Coaching for Literacy please visit www.coachingforliteracy.org and follow Coaching for Literacy on Twitter @CoachingforLit.
 
For more information on the Fight for Literacy Games initiative please visit www.fightforliteracygames.org and follow Fight for Literacy Games on Twitter @FightForLitGame.