Rotary Happenings: Rotarians learn about Write on Sports, programs
Sports and journalism may not always seem as if they were to go hand in hand, however, The Associated Press former sports writer, editor and senior executive Byron Yake is showing that they most definitely can walk side by side.
Through inspiration from his interest in sports, journalism, education and his desire to help students improve their writing skills, he founded Write on Sports in 2005. It is a non-profit literacy theme-based education program that started with 24 students as a summer camp program with its primary focus in New Jersey. Write on Sports now operates in four states with annual goals to broaden further into high-need communities in New Jersey and beyond.
The programs includes summer day camps, after-school programs and workshops for alumni that now stretch the participant ages from seventh and eighth grades to ninth and 10th grades. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, Write on Sports held 10 two-week summer camps and several after-school programs. Last year, it pivoted to online programs and launched two in-person camps in Denver, Colorado, and Kearny, New Jersey.
Write on Sports has now reached about 2,500 students in its 16 years and continues to grow and attract the interest of educators, academic institutions, journalists and broadcasters, and young minds.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club holds a meeting on Fridays at 7:15 a.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, and via Zoom; doors open at 6:45 a.m. To attend in person, email William.Harkey@gmail.com before the meeting. For more information, visit sanibelrotary.org or www.facebook.com/sancaprotary.