Athletes to Authors
Program Overview
Our “Athletes to Authors” program helps student athletes on high school track teams by giving them free track shoes in exchange for their essay on historic minority figures & accomplishments. The essays are compiled into books to help the school team fundraise. The schools participate in an annual relay invitational track meet.
Why And What We’re Solving
High school track and field student athletes are faced with high costs of track shoes every year because of growth. Many don’t have the funds and are forced to wear unsafe shoes. Track teams need money in general and are over shadowed by other sports. Every student athlete, coach, and connected family can use a boost in confidence, learn to value and appreciate each other’s contributions to society and be encouraged to succeed.
How The Program Works
Coaches sign their prospect relay teams up for Athletes to Authors Relay Invitational and instruct all students on their team roster to submit a short essay on a minority figure or accomplishment from one of the choices on the program’s provided list. Additionally, the students submit a one paragraph autobiography about their own personal accomplishments, goals or passions. Essays and autobiographies are combined into books personalized for each school team and available for purchase to help teams fundraise. All student athletes on team roster that submitted their essay and autobiography will receive a pair of track shoes.
Athletes selected by their coach to represent their school in the relay invitational have an opportunity to win medals. The largest trophy goes to the top school but travels next year to the school that wins.
