Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7252 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 53 High school football in South Georgia represents more than championships and stories of legends; it is the lingering summer heat that begs for a hint of fall weather, sounds of the marching band, and roar of the crowds. For many young boys, it is the passion and dream of playing football that motivates and drives them toward excellence. It was no different for Malcolm Mitchell, a Valdosta High School Wildcat who loved football and not much of anything else. Mitchell admits that he was not the best student. He did not like to read and avoided homework as fast as he could slip past a cornerback on the football field. Wildcat, Bulldog & Patriot: Malcolm Mitchell Inspires Children to Find a Passion for Reading When Mitchell entered the University of Georgia, he realized his drive for success would not come without learning to enjoy reading. Mitchell turned that fear into his passion, not just to improve himself but to encourage children to find the magical experience of reading much earlier than he did. “When I got to college, I decided that I was going to be the best I could be on and off the field,” Mitchell said. “One night I was watching a YouTube video about how LeBron James reads books before a basketball game. I asked myself, ‘Why would the best basketball player in the world read books before a basketball game?’” Finding the time to read for pleasure was not easy. With a hectic academic schedule and demands of football, Mitchell’s goal was giving everything he had to football. He never imagined that he would become an avid reader, let alone an award-winning children’s book author. During his first two seasons, Mitchell began adding to his list of football accolades including All-SEC honors. Then in 2013, he was sidelined with an ACL injury that would take him out of play for the remainder of the season. “During the time I was hurt was when reading became a major part of my life,” Mitchell said. “I have always focused on what I wanted to achieve regardless of whatever distractions came around, and a lot come from everywhere.” Mitchell did not let his injury become a distraction. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity. “I still had the goal of being successful,” said Mitchell, who was chosen as captain of the 2015 Allstate American Football Coaches Good Works Team for his generous contributions to the community. “Being average is my biggest fear. When I was hurt, I was praying and Jeremiah Horton proudly shows his copy of “The Magician’s Hat” he received during Malcolm Mitchell’s visit to Pinevale Elementary School. Malcolm Mitchell was excited to be in his hometown of Valdosta, Georgia, to share copies of “The Magician’s Hat” with hundreds of first graders in the Valdosta City and Lowndes County school systems. PHOTO: PAUL LEAVY 52 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 start reading,” said Mitchell, who was named the 2016 Georgia Children’s Author of the Year by the Georgia’s Writers Association. “When I was your age I didn’t enjoy reading, it was hard, and I was scared to be called on to read in class.” Mitchell’s homecoming was an encouragement to more than the children. Valdosta Board of Education member Trey Sherwood took time from his schedule to come hear the former Wildcat and witness the thrill as the students met Mitchell and heard his story. “It is important today to see the children’s eyes light up when they see an athletic superstar come and spend time with them,” Sherwood said. “Malcolm is a role model to these kids, and he has taken that seriously. What he is doing with Read with Malcolm is 10 times what football will ever be.” Like many Valdosta residents, Sherwood has followed Mitchell’s football career as a Wildcat and Bulldog and is helping the Share the Magic Foundation continue to grow. “My family is proud to support Malcolm through his foundation. He has one of those heartwarming stories where you see a young man take his God-given talents, and through sports, he has parlayed that into other opportunities,” Sherwood said. “It is a blessing for Valdosta and Lowndes County to have Malcolm reach out to these children and provide them with books, and for some this may be the only book in their home.” With the encouragement of family and friends, Mitchell will continue to inspire young children to read and imagine their dreams. To support the Share the Magic Foundation, visit the website at readwithmalcolm.com asking God to please not make me average at whatever it is I do. I have always wanted to do the best I can.” His request not to be average was achieved. In 2014, Mitchell returned to football and received the UGA Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 2015, his senior year, he started in all 13 games and was named Offensive Team Captain. Mitchell finished his college football career with 174 catches for 2,350 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He not only won the hearts of Bulldog fans, but he caught the attention of the New England Patriots when he was picked in the fourth round of the NFL draft as the No. 112 overall pick. On the field, Mitchell was achieving his dream of becoming a professional football player. Off the field, he was continuing to develop his passion for reading and thinking of ways he could inspire young children to become excited about reading. Mitchell first started writing “The Magician’s Hat” several years ago and he said writing the book and having it published has been a learning experience. “Everything I have done with the book has all been new,” Mitchell explained. “As far as writing the book I had no idea how to get it done. I didn’t know where to start, so I simply got out a piece of paper and wrote down words.” He continued writing and then putting the sequence of words and thoughts into the format of a book. “A children’s book is about flipping pages, so I wrote words on a page and then another and folded it together and made a book,” Mitchell said. “I then went to the writing center at UGA for advice and next put it on a PowerPoint slide. The story just kept developing over time. It was simply just writing…this was new for me.” After writing the book, the Share the Magic Foundation was formed with a mission to share and develop a passion for reading in children. Through donations from individuals, organizations, and corporate sponsors, the foundation has provided free copies of “The Magician’s Hat” to thousands of children throughout Georgia. In March of this year, with financial assistance from attorney Ken Nugent, Mitchell was able to give a copy of his book to every first grader in the Valdosta City School and Lowndes County School systems, as well as the Dougherty County School System (Albany, Georgia). The presentation was extra special for the students at Pinevale Elementary School in Valdosta, where Mitchell was joined by Nugent to present the books. “I am so happy to be home,” Mitchell said to a gymnasium full of excited students. “I was raised in Valdosta, and there is no better place to be— the place that has made me who I am today. The place that can make you who you want to be.” Mitchell tells the children that success begins with reading and he wants them to learn to enjoy reading. “I knew that if I wanted to be the best person I could be that I would have to