It’s not that Malcolm Mitchell couldn’t read in college. Sure, he struggled with it, but he also just didn’t want to waste his time with books. And why should he? He was a receiver for the University of Georgia’s Bulldogs, and by all accounts, an exceptional player – a shoo-in for the NFL. In fact, Mitchell is now a Super Bowl champion, having played a critical role in the New England Patriots’ comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. But that’s only part of what makes Mitchell so special.
After receiving an injury while playing for the Bulldogs, Mitchell was forced to take a break from football, and that’s when he finally picked up a book. It was difficult at first, so he started with the basics: children’s books. As his skill progressed, he began reading stories of increasing complexity, eventually consuming multiple novels each week. He enjoyed reading so much, at one point he even joined a women’s book club. The power of literacy had changed his life, and he wanted to share what he had learned.
Mitchell soon penned his first book, “The Magician’s Hat,” which was designed to help children understand how transformational reading can be. “Most magicians pull rabbits out of a hat or quarters from behind a kid’s ear,” Mitchell told
CBS Sports, “This magician’s best trick is showing the magical powers of books.”
In 2015, Mitchell founded a youth literacy initiative, “
Read with Malcolm,” which is aimed at helping “transform the lives of young students through literacy.” In 2016, Read with Malcolm launched the “Share the Magic Foundation,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the long-term benefits of reading and book ownership in underserved communities.
Malcolm Mitchell is one of the leaders giving a speech during the convention’s General Session, which is taking place Sunday, June 23, at 3:30 – 5:15 in the Chatham Ballroom at the Savannah Convention Center. For more information, click
here.