CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Two former NFL players are trading footballs for books at Johnson Elementary School this Friday. Chris Long, a two-time Super Bowl champion, and Joe Reed, a former Chicago Bear, will read to students as part of the Chris Long Foundation’s EdZone initiative. The event celebrates a donation of over 1,200 books to the school in partnership with First Book.

The EdZone initiative, launched by the Chris Long Foundation, provides students with access to culturally relevant books and resources like hygiene products. EdZone closets, established in all six Charlottesville elementary schools, supply clothing, hygiene items, and other essentials to aimed at making sure students are comfortable and ready to learn.

The Chris Long Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Chris Long, focusing on basic needs and education equity. First Book, a partner in this initiative, has distributed over 225 million books and educational resources to children in need and works to remove barriers to quality education.