On Thursday afternoon, while many players were studying their playbooks or resting between practices, Buffalo Bills Linebacker Angelo Crowell was reading a book…T is for Touchdown.
As part of the St. John Fisher College Literacy Program, nearly 40 young children from the city and suburbs of Rochester and Greater Monroe County were treated to a book reading by Angelo Crowell. The kids gathered around Crowell as he read the A-to-Z book, T is for Touchdown by author Brad Herzog. Crowell spent his free time after lunch and before a team meeting to read, answer questions, and sign autographs for children of the literacy program…all with a smile on his face that couldn't help but be noticed.
Crowell told the kids that being able to read and have an education was an important part of being a football player in the NFL. He described the large playbook that he has to read and understand for his position on the team. "Without an education, I never would have gotten this far," stated Crowell. "I went to the University of Virginia and worked hard at school and was fortunate to get my education and play ball."
Near the end of the session, Crowell answered questions and told the children that he had most recently read, The Purpose Driven Life and Power of Words. He happily signed autographs for every child in attendance and shared one final thought before departing, "Begin to dream about what you want to do. And, dream big, because your dreams are very accomplishable."
President Donald Bain of St. John Fisher College (SJFC) and his wife Meg, strong supporters of the literacy program, welcomed and thanked Crowell for his participation in the literacy initiative. Dr. Kathy Broikou, the Director of Literacy Programs at SJFC, said that parents and teachers recommend students for the literacy program held in the spring, summer and fall. Some 60 children are chosen from the application process for each session. SJFC and the Buffalo Bills, in conjunction with the City of Rochester, will celebrate Literacy Day on August 18, 2008, at the Bills Verizon Wireless Training Camp. More details about Literacy Day will be announced shortly.
After signing autographs for every child in attendance and taking a few photographs, Crowell was on his way back to work preparing for the season. On this day, "T is for Touchdown" and AC scored big for the kids.
