DALLAS - SMU Men's Basketball and Veritex Community Bank have partnered with Coaching for Literacy to support Readers 2 Leaders, a Dallas organization that promotes childhood reading and raises funds for the local literacy work. This is the sixth straight season, SMU Men's Basketball has hosted a Coaching For Literacy game.
 
Because life success is directly tied to the ability to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, the futures of local kids like Annie, Jaylen, and Lucas are on the line every year. That is why SMU and Tim Jankovich will host a #Fight4Literacy Game on December 3, 2019 to promote childhood reading and raise funds for the local literacy work of Readers 2 Leaders.
 
 
MUSTANGS FANS CAN GIVE THE GIFT OF LITERACY TO LOCAL STUDENTS
 
For every $10 contributed by SMU Mustangs fans, Coaching for Literacy (CFL) will provide 2 books to local kids like Annie, Jaylen, and Lucas. To learn more text "MUSTANGS4LIT" to 71-777 or visit: http://igfn.us/vf/MUSTANGS4LIT.
 
Thanks to CFL's Impact Promise, 100% of funds raised by SMU Mustangs fans will stay local and go straight to help young students in Dallas become better readers. Coaching For Litarcy and Readers 2 Leaders are fighting to help kids read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade. In fact, 70% of 4th-grade students in Texas are not reading at the proficient level.
 
Veritex Community Bank has guaranteed a $2,500 gift to the local literacy program partner.
 
COACHING STAFF SET TO WEAR GREEN AND PROMOTE CHILDHOOD READING
 
During the #Fight4Literacy the SMU Mustangs coaching staff will wear CFL's #Green4Literacy awareness kit, showcasing a green tie, lapel pin and wrist band.
 
"We want to encourage our fans to join with us in Coaching for Literacy's mission to give every child the ability to read,'' said SMU Mustangs Head Coach, Tim Jankovich. "Through Veritex Bank's sponsorship of our #Fight4Literacy Game, we will help young students in our community and create a brighter future."

ABOUT THE #FIGHT4LITERACY INITIATIVE
 
Thanks to the support of its partners and Americans nationwide, Coaching for Literacy has conducted over 125 #Fight4Literacy Games with more than 50 NCAA teams. Their work generates crucial awareness and has provided over $280,000 to fund over 85 literacy projects supporting more than 15,000 children nationwide. 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 learn more about why literacy matters and explore how you can make a difference for literacy efforts in your community, visit coachingforliteracy.org.