SHARP LITERACY CELEBRATES 21st ANNUAL A NOVEL EVENT PRESENTED BY BREWERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (August 10, 2022) – Milwaukee Brewers pitchers Corbin Burnes, Taylor Rogers and Brent Suter will be featured guests at SHARP Literacy’s annual “A Novel Event” on Thursday, September 15 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at American Family Field. The event will celebrate the 21st annual Novel Event and mark over 25 years of SHARP delivering innovative programming to urban elementary students. Michelle and George Baumann, Marybeth Budisch and Mark Sabljak are serving as event co-chairs. Fox 6 Anchor Ted Perry will emcee the event.
A Novel Event 2022 Starting Lineup:
- 2021 National League Cy Young award winner and 2022 All-Star Corbin Burnes, who currently leads the league with 175 strikeouts while maintaining a stellar 2.20 ERA.
- 2021 American League All-Star Taylor Rogers, newly acquired Milwaukee Brewers reliever who has racked up an impressive 28 saves and 48 strikeouts this season. Taylor established the Rogers Family Foundation in 2018 to support firefighters facing mental health issues, and in 2021 was presented with the Carl R. Pohlad Award in recognition of his outstanding community involvement.
- Dominant pitcher Brent Suter, AKA “The Raptor,” who’s also an environmental activist and children’s book author. His book, The Binky Bandit, tells the story of his goldendoodle, Wally, and his affinity with Suter’s son Liam’s pacifiers, AKA “binkies.”
The event will feature a casual vibe with food and drink stations offering elevated ballpark fare, raffles, award presentations, and a voice auction. The pitchers will participate in a program filled with baseball banter and a lively behind-the-scenes conversation centered around their experiences in the sport and with the Brewers. The program will also include a question and answer session with all three pitchers.
At the event, Joel Huffman, past SHARP Literacy board member and civic volunteer, will receive the Literacy Champion Award for his longstanding support of SHARP. Over the years, Joel has selflessly donated his time and many talents to furthering SHARP’s mission of improving the lives of urban elementary students. American Family Insurance will also receive the Literacy Champion Award for their ongoing commitment to SHARP and its programs, which will be presented to Maggie Pascaly, community investment manager.
The message of this year’s A Novel Event is the importance of teamwork, according to Lynda Kohler, president and CEO of SHARP Literacy. “We’re asking the community to get involved and help us address the academic needs of young urban students. Support of SHARP Literacy helps to level the playing field for thousands of young students who may face overwhelming challenges in school and life.” Kohler went on to say, “With the support of partners like Brewers Community Foundation, we’re addressing that critical need by delivering a STEAM-based educational program that provides students with the opportunity to improve their literary skills and develop a life-long love of learning.”
Funds raised at A Novel Event will support the delivery of SHARP’s foundational literacy program to thousands of K3 through fifth grade students and educators in over 50 urban schools across Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha.
Individual tickets for the event are $200 for standard and $300 for VIP, with a $50 discount for early bird pricing through August 12. Tickets may be purchased online at novel22.givesmart.com, or by calling 414.410.3204. Various levels of corporate and individual sponsorships are also available. SHARP Literacy wishes to thank this year’s largest event sponsors to date: American Family Insurance, Brewers Community Foundation, BMO Harris, Continental Properties, and Great Lakes Rubber. SHARP is also grateful to media partners 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, BizTimes Milwaukee, CW 18/My 24 Milwaukee, ESPN Milwaukee, OnMilwaukee, and Urban Milwaukee.
SHARP Literacy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Milwaukee nonprofit educational program whose mission is to partner with educators to foster a love of learning and advance children’s futures through innovative STEAM-based experiences and programs. The primary goal of SHARP Literacy is to provide elementary school students with an imaginative learning experience that builds confidence, self-esteem, and a greater awareness of the world. In 2022/2023, SHARP Literacy, Inc. will impact growth in foundational literacy skills in thousands of urban elementary school students and educators in over 50 schools across Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha. For more information, visit sharpliteracy.org.
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