For over 20 years, our mission has been to tackle illiteracy by providing free books and positive role models to kids in need while encouraging athletes of the community to pay it forward. We do this through our 2nd grade reading program and free kids' book bank (coming winter 2022). The 2nd and 7 Foundation was started in 1999 by three former Ohio State Buckeye football players—Ryan Miller, Luke Fickell, and Mike Vrabel. Inspired by their involvement in various community outreach programs as student-athletes, they decided to continue to make a difference by promoting literacy and providing positive role models for children in central Ohio. Over the past 20 years, the program has grown to 180 communities in 26 states. The “Tackling Illiteracy” program encourages student-athletes from universities and high schools across the nation to participate in weekly readings in second-grade classrooms. While in the classrooms, they are reading to the kids, passing out FREE books for the kids to take home and reminding the kids why it is so important to read. The 2nd and 7 Foundation created a book series called the Hog Mollies; each book teaches valuable life lessons. In 2019, we will be releasing the 12th book in the series!