Green Bay Packer icon Donald Driver will take the stage at Sharp Literacy, Inc.’s annual fundraiser this fall to speak to the importance of building literacy skills beginning in early childhood.
Driver, who has authored three children’s books, himself, on top of his professional football career and Dancing with the Stars championship, was the Milwaukee-based nonprofit organization’s first choice for a keynote speaker.
Driver will touch on the personal life challenges he faced throughout his childhood and will emphasize the need for literacy education in the community during his speech, according to Lynda Kohler, executive director of Sharp Literacy.
“He knows how important it is to get children’s books out there so they can start at a young age and how important reading is,” Kohler said.
During the fundraiser, scheduled for Sept. 23, Sharp Literacy will also unveil the 11th book in its “We Love to Learn” book series. With research text and illustrations contributed by students who participate in Sharp Literacy, the series reinforces the nonprofit’s mission to improve kids’ confidence in their reading, writing and researching abilities through engagement with the visual arts.
The latest book, in the process of being titled, focuses on weather and the Great Lakes. While the book targets second graders, it will incorporate research conducted by students in grades 2-5, Kohler said.
In line with the previous 10 books, the text will be available in both English and Spanish.
In addition to debuting at the fall fundraiser, the book will be available for purchase. Driver will also be signing his children’s books at the fundraiser. His books include “Quickie Goes to the Big Game,” “Quickie Makes the Team,” and “Quickie Handles a Loss.”
“We’re just very privileged and blessed that he’ll be a part of our event,” Kohler said.
Sharp Literacy serves more than 5,500 Milwaukee students and teachers in grades 1-5 with programming and curriculum that draws connections between reading and writing lessons and the visual arts.
Sharp Literacy’s annual fundraiser will be held at the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. Community members interested in attending can find more information at www.sharpliteracy.org. Registration is currently open for the event.