©
RB Jaydn Ott, TE Jack Endries Head Cal's 2024 Summer Reading Challenge
The Cal football reading challenge and book drive is scheduled for a Saturday launch to improve elementary school literacy
Cal announced on Monday that its Cal Football Summer Reading Challenge and Book Drive will be kicked off this weekend at the Spring Showcase, and Bears running back Jaydn Ott and tight end Jack Endries are the Cal football players directing the drive.
The Cal reading program was started in 2018 by former Bears running back Patrick Lard, who is now on the offseason roster of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This year Ott and Endries are sharing the responsibility of representing Cal in this project to promote literacy in elementary school children in the Bay Area. They plan to visit Bay Area elementary schools to share the joy of reading.
The program has special interest for Ott.
"I wanted to get involved because I used to do the reading challenge and reading log when I was younger," Ott said Monday. "My mom had forced me to do it; I didn't want to do it. But it actually turned out being very beneficial, helping me in school, helping me communicate with my classmates more efficiently as well as on the football field."
He and Endries visited Rosa Parks Elementary School in Berkeley on Friday.
"It was dope," said Ott. "It was good. They had some funny questions for me and Jack."
Various Cal players have represented the Cal football team in the reading challenge since Laird graduated.
"It's an honor to carry it on," said Ott.
Cover photo of Jaydn Ott
Follow Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jakecurtis53
Find Cal Sports Report on Facebook by going to https://www.facebook.com/si.calsportsreport
