$75,000 in Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy Grants Awarded to Schools and Programs Statewide
INDIANAPOLIS – As Indianapolis prepares to welcome the nation’s top college basketball programs for the 2026 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, the tournament’s impact is already being felt in classrooms across the Hoosier State. Indiana Sports Corp and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Indianapolis Local Organizing Committee today announced the distribution of $75,000 in Read to the Final Four® Literacy Legacy Grants, supporting schools and students from across Indiana in their pursuit of literacy excellence.
Launched in November 2025, the Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy Grant program was made possible through the generous support of the NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp, and the Local Organizing Committee. Open to schools enrolled and engaged in Read to the Final Four education programming throughout Indiana, the grants were reviewed by committee members alongside NCAA student-athlete representatives from institutions across the state, a process that itself modeled the civic and leadership values at the heart of the program.
Grant Awards at a Glance
Library Makeover Grants: Five Indiana schools received funding to transform their library spaces through infrastructure improvements, technology upgrades, and cosmetic enhancements. Recipients include Center for Inquiry 70 (Indianapolis, Ind.), Paragon Elementary (Paragon, Ind.), Coulston Elementary School (Shelbyville, Ind.), St. Peter Lutheran School (North Judson, Ind.), and Wea Ridge Elementary School (Lafayette, Ind.).
Literacy Legacy Champions: Fifteen individual champions were each recognized with a $1,000 grant for their outstanding role in encouraging and enhancing literacy efforts at their schools during visits from the Final Four Fan Jam Promotional Truck. Honorees represent schools from across the state, including Glen Acres Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Warren Online Academy, Carroll Elementary, Westville Elementary, Brownstown Elementary, Greensburg Elementary, and many more.
NCAA Student-Athlete Representative Program: Ten NCAA student-athletes from Indiana colleges and universities were selected to form the inaugural cohort of the Read to the Final Four Student-Athlete Representative Program. These representatives from Indiana University, IU Indianapolis, Franklin College, and Valparaiso University participated in the grant review process and engaged in monthly sessions on critical thinking, philanthropy, and principled decision-making — skills that extend well beyond the court.
With Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy grants now invested directly into Indiana schools and literacy programs, the legacy of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four is already taking shape, one reader at a time.
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About Indiana Sports Corp
Founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission, Indiana Sports Corp is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events. These events drive economic vitality, foster a vibrant community with civic pride, generate national and international media attention, and champion access and education through sport. For more information, please visit IndianaSportsCorp.org.