DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League franchise of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Athene are excited to announce a three-year renewed commitment of their Read to Achieve program.
Read to Achieve is a free literacy program campaign for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade created by the Iowa Wolves and Athene to help children across Iowa develop a lifelong love of reading and to encourage adults to read regularly with them. The state-wide program debuted during the 2022 NBA G League regular season with more than 2,700 elementary students participating.
“Athene is proud to partner with the Iowa Wolves for a second year and to continue our commitment over the next three years. We know the importance of reading and the impact it has on learning. Read to Achieve is a great way to encourage and support students as they develop crucial skills through their education journey,” said Grant Kvalheim, CEO and President of Athene USA.
Beginning today, schools and teachers can sign up their students and classrooms to participate in this school year’s Read to Achieve with sign up closing Sept. 18. Students who read 500 or more minutes in school or at home during a six-week timeframe this fall will be rewarded with an Iowa Wolves and Athene prize pack. Students will track their own time and report it to their teachers.
The prize pack includes a bookmark, Iowa Wolves and Athene prizes and up to four free tickets to an Iowa Wolves home game in 2022. The school with the most students who complete more than 500 minutes will win a pizza party for their entire school.
“This is an exciting partnership with Athene. As the husband of an elementary school reading teacher, I know personally how crucial it is for kids to develop healthy reading habits early in life,” said Iowa Wolves President Ryan Grant. “If we can help turn that light on with kids across the state by using our basketball platform and personalities, that’s a win-win for all of us in the community.”
For more information on Read to Achieve Presented by Athene visit www.iawolves.com/readtoachieve.com.
About Athene
Athene, through its subsidiaries, is a leading retirement services company with total assets of $234.3 billion as of June 30, 2022, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, and Canada. Athene specializes in helping its customers achieve financial security and is a solutions provider to institutions. Founded in 2009, Athene is Driven to Do More for our policyholders, business partners, shareholders, and the communities in which we work and live. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.
Iowa Wolves Contact: John Meyer, Media Relations Specialist
(515) 564-8555, john.meyer@iawolves.com
Athene Contact: Kelly Woerdehoff, AVP, Corporate Communications
(515) 342-5144, kwoerdehoff@athene.com