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Athletes reach out to local schools to promote reading and sign autographs.

As the class listened with fascination, Griese read "Three Cool Kids" by Rebecca Emberley, answered questions about football and gave each child a Michigan `M' sticker with his autograph. Down the hall, fullback Mike Vanderbeek visited Vernell Williams' third grade class, where he also read and signed autographs.

These classrooms are among the many that University athletes will visit as a part of the Student-athletes Helping to Achieve Reading Excellence program. Founded last fall by student athletes in the M-PACT Community Relations Committee, SHARE members visit a different school every Thursday and Friday where they answer questions and try to inspire children to read.

"The program gives you a chance to do something outside of the University and for the community," said senior golfer Shannon McDonald, who read at Bryant Elementary School.

She gave the children autographed copies of the women's golf media guide. McDonald said she enjoyed visiting the children because she is not often asked for autographs. McDonald was also given the opportunity to help the children with their spelling.

Varsity athletes say they enjoy this chance to work with the children, who are always thrilled to meet collegiate athletes. Although the athletes are there to promote reading, the children usually ask them about their sport and things related to college life.

Pittsfield Elementary School Principal Glenna Tringali said she is enthusiastic about the program's influence on her students. "This is an opportunity for students to see positive models," she said.

Tringali also said she would like the athletes to visit her school more frequently. Some of the children said they were disappointed they were not able to have an athlete read to them.

SHARE sends members of a different varsity team to elementary schools each week, but have not been able to meet the demand for readers, said Nayla Azzam, who coordinates SHARE with Athletic Community Relations.

The teams rotate weeks, with a different varsity team reading each Thursday and Friday. The athletes sign up and are assigned a classroom in the elementary school chosen for that week, but because the program is new, Azzam said, there are still athletes unfamiliar with the benefits of the program. Griese said he sees it as a way for the football players, as well as other athletes, to give back to the community.

"How could you not have fun with a bunch of kids?" Griese said.

The program started last year with a test run from Nov. 16 to Dec. 8.