Related Links:
Whitewater Leads Web Page
Warhawk Leadership Academy Web Page
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will work in partnership with the College of Education and Professional Studies to collect funds for Whitewater LEADS, a non-profit organization to support literacy in the Whitewater area, at the Warhawk football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. against UW-Eau Claire.
 
A collection will also be taken at the UW-Whitewater volleyball team's match against UW-Eau Claire on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Williams Center's Russell Arena.
 
The initiative, which will be run by the Warhawk Leadership Academy, will support the purchasing of books, especially Spanish language literature for people of all reading levels, for the Whitewater community at large.
 
Fans are encouraged to donate near the front of Perkins Stadium upon entrance.
 
"We are thrilled to partner with the College of Education and Professional Studies and Whitewater LEADS organization," said Dr. Kristina Navarro, Director of Student-Athlete Engagement and Director of the Warhawk Leadership Academy. "A common goal across program partners is to support literacy efforts in the schools. This provides a unique opportunity to engage our student-athletes via the Reading with the Warhawks, Learning with the Warhawks and Moving with the Warhawks programs."
 
The initiative also ties in with the WLA's Warhawks Give Back program.
 
"We are very excited about this opportunity," said Michael Salm, Warhawk Leadership Academy President and men's soccer senior. "It is a partnership that will help us as student-athletes intentionally reach many children in the greater Whitewater community."
 
The event is part of an equal partnership bringing together UW-Whitewater, the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater Business Community and the Whitewater Unified School District. The goal of Whitewater LEADS is to combine resources from the involved groups to increase literacy in Whitewater.
 
Katy Heyning, UW-Whitewater Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, will be recognized on the field following the first quarter at the football game with other members of the Whitewater LEADS executive board, including Salm, Whitewater business community representatives Jeffrey Knight and Larry Kachel, Whitewater community representative Dr. Jim Winship and Whitewater Unified School District representative Dr. Peggy Wuenstel.
 
Chancellor Beverly Kopper, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Edmonds and Navarro will be on hand for the brief presentation.
 
To learn more, visit the Whitewater LEADS Web page or contact Whitewater LEADS by e-mail at whitewaterleads@gmail.com.