Celebrating 3,000 Students Who Found Their Voice Through Literacy Enrichment
South Orange, NJ | October 7, 2025 – For 20 years, Write on Sports has been a catalyst for inspiring students to write by writing about sports. What started as a “third act” idea after founder, Byron Yake, retired from a career in sports journalism has blossomed into sought-after, year-round programming that strengthens literacy skills and sparks career potential for middle school students.
MAKING A LASTING IMPACT
Write on Sports (WoS) has maintained its core values since it launched in 2005. The tenets of the project-based curriculum focus on student choice, authentic learning experiences, and building self-confidence. The program has had a profound effect on many of the 3,000 students it has served. WoS students have gone on to higher education at Columbia University, Princeton, Montclair State University, Harvard Law, Rutgers and Hofstra – to name a few! Some became journalists working at major outlets like ESPN, MSNBC, NHL Network, The New York Times or they went on to become teachers, attorneys, working in the medical and financial worlds.
“Coming to Write on Sports was the first time I realized that you actually could get paid to work in sports and do something you love” shared Jonathan Banks, WoS alumnus. Banks, an Emmy winner for his work at ESPN, shared this sentiment with current Write on Sports students during his visit to the summer program at Montclair State.
SPOTLIGHTING SUCCESS FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Write on Sports will honor another alumna, Molly Rich, at the upcoming Evening of Champions celebration and fundraising event on October 16th. Rich attended Write on Sports in 2007, interned with WoS during her college years at Rutgers University, and currently works at the MLB Network. During her tenure at the MLB Network, Rich has earned three (3) Emmy awards and has been promoted to supervisor, Media Management. Rich has been an ambassador for Write on Sports, assisting in recruiting and featured on guest panels during summer programs. “I was a very shy kid…I knew I wanted to be in sports and Write on Sports propelled me forward through high school and college. It took that little doubt of shyness out of my head, and I said I can do this” said Rich.
To join in celebrating 20 years of Write on Sports visit HERE to purchase tickets and support the event.
ABOUT WRITE ON SPORTS
Write on Sports (WoS) is a passionate non-profit literacy initiative aimed at inspiring students from under-resourced communities to strengthen their writing skills, critical thinking, and self-confidence through subjects that ignite their enthusiasm: sports and the arts. We broaden our definition of sports to encompass not just the games kids play and watch, but also how sports intersect with fashion, music, and important social issues. In 2024, we launched Write on Arts, which invites students to explore the visual and performing arts, further enriching their skill sets. Both programs focus on personalizing instruction to align with students’ interests and abilities, ensuring that every participant benefits and grows as a writer and learner.
Based in New Jersey, this 501(c)(3) organization will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in 2025, having positively impacted the lives of over 3,000 children through summer camps, workshops, and after-school programs across the country. We’ve reached kids in counties including Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, and Union, along with expanding our chapter programs into California, Colorado, Indiana, and Rhode Island.
Founded in 2005 by Byron Yake, a former Associated Press sportswriter and national sports editor, WoS employs a unique curriculum that emphasizes the fundamentals of writing, public speaking, video production, and interactive media. Our mission is to be a community leader, collaborating closely with reputable educational institutions such as Montclair State University, Monmouth University, Seton Hall University, and Kean University in New Jersey; Bryant University and Providence College in Rhode Island; Metropolitan State University in Colorado; Goshen College in Indiana, and Berkeley United School District in California. We also partner with renowned public sports and entertainment venues like The Yogi Berra Museum and The Prudential Center, enriching our programs and providing unforgettable experiences, and more importantly, opportunities for our students.
To donate or for more information about Write on Sports, visit writeonsports.org, follow @WriteonSports and join the community conversation at Facebook.com/WriteonSports.
For media inquiries, please contact media@writeonsports.org