Student-Athletes Deliver Book Drive Books to Local Schools

HARRISONBURG, Va. - The JMU Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Council, which launched in the Fall of 2020 in response to the need to place greater attention on all issues of diversity and inclusion within the department, partnered with Harrisonburg City Public Schools earlier this year in an effort to promote diversity, inclusion and literacy within Harrisonburg City Public Schools.

Three children's books were selected by the JMU Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Council that address or promote inclusive environments. In turn, individuals were asked to purchase a book towards the goal of providing one book to each child enrolled in Harrisonburg City Public Schools in the grades of Pre-K and Kindergarten!

That effort encompassed a total of 623 students and, as of June 7, a total of 634 books were donated. That means that approximately $10,000 was raised in books to distribute within our local community. On Monday, June 7, 20 student-athletes from several sports (women's basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, swim & dive, track & cross country and cheerleading) delivered the books to six local elementary schools (Keister, Elon Rhodes, Smithland, Spotswood, Stone Spring, and Waterman) around Harrisonburg.

Book donations were collected from members from all across the JMU Athletics community – student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, community members and fans.

The three books selected were "Saffron Ice Cream" by Rashin Kheiriyeh, "A Paintbrush for Paco" by Tracey Kyle and Joshua Heinsz, and "That's My Friend" by former JMU football player, Vad Lee and his wife, Khayla.

The JMU Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Council will continue its work, both at JMU and in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County community, in 2021.

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