Packers, Edvest Team Up For Youth Reading Program

Wisconsin’s college investment program, Edvest, is working with a pro sports team to get young students on the road to higher education.

Edvest lets parents and grandparents start investment funds aimed at their kids’ college educations. This summer, Edvest, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Green Bay Packers are launching “Leap into Reading.”

“To reach all over Wisconsin you have to go with the Packers.”

Jim DiUlio directs Wisconsin’s college savings programs, including Ed Vest. He says 200 public libraries from all over the state will sign up their elementary-aged participants into the program. There are no required number of books to read but each child will be eligible to win tickets to the Packers “Family Night” later in the summer. More importantly, $1,000-dollar accounts will be awarded to twenty people.

DiUlio says working with pro athletes is actually a good fit when trying to get kids to college.

“Every so often you see on the football games [that] they talk about the colleges the players went to. In order to get there, you have to be a good reader and to be a successful college student. It’s always a good start.”

DiUlio says “Leap into Reading” is funded by program fees and that no tax dollars are being used.