'Champions for Literacy': Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener hold event for 2nd straight year

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For the second straight year, two of Marquette's best, Dwayne Wade and Travis Diener come together to benefit youth literacy. Together, they held the Champions for Literacy event.

For the two former Marquette greats, year one of Wade vs. Diener was a success.

"The vision to start is we're going to do this as long as we can," said Diener.

"We put this together, Diener and I, for a bigger cause," said Wade.

With the help of other Marquette alums, the weekend begins with a girls basketball camp for kids from third to 12th grade.

"We understand what basketball does for kids. Today is probably the most basketball I've played all year for sure," said Wade.

In addition to the camp, the weekend includes a tee off event Saturday night and a golf outing on Monday. 

The goal is to raise awareness and funds to benefit summer reading programs like the one named after Wade's sister, Tragil.

"Literacy is something that's really important for me and for my family. The greater Milwaukee area is something that's really important to Diener and really important for myself as well. So, we wanted to bring something as former athletes here for Marquette and this community that can uplift it," said Wade. 

"Obviously reading is essential to anyone's educational success to give every kid the same opportunities to learn I think is incredibly important," said Diener. 

Both Wade and Diener still enjoy the spirit of competition but understand the weekend's ultimate goal, and hopes it reaches new heights every year.

"And the goal is to have everyone in the Milwaukee community to feel a part of what we're doing. It's easy for me to write a check, I've been doing it for the last couple years of this program since we've had it, but we want it to be bigger. We want it to grow. We have to raise money to be able to continue to make sure that our kids have the skills that they need," said Wade. 

The 18-hole golf event to wrap the weekend tees off at 10: a.m. on Monday, June 17.

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