Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski is swapping the mound for a microphone next month, serving as the featured guest at SHARP Literacy's 25th annual A Novel Event fundraiser at American Family Field on September 10. The two-time National League All-Star will sit for a guest question-and-answer session about growing up with dyslexia and navigating its challenges as a major league pitcher, running from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of a family-friendly evening in the ballpark's First Base Ward.
The pairing of Misiorowski with a literacy nonprofit is not as unlikely as it might first sound. As reported by OnMilwaukee, the pitcher has shared his experience living with dyslexia and supports SHARP Literacy's mission to inspire a love of learning and improve education outcomes. In a July interview with event emcee Lance Allan, Misiorowski told CBS 58 that he was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade and learned to cope by changing text backgrounds to red or black with white font so letters would not jump or shift on the page.
Allan will lead the on-stage conversation with Misiorowski, who is expected to share behind-the-scenes stories from his baseball career alongside the more personal details of his learning journey. SHARP Literacy President and CEO Lynda Kohler Welsh said the organization is grateful to Misiorowski for sharing his story with the SHARP community, according to the fundraiser's promotional materials cited by OnMilwaukee.
From Draft Pick to All-Star Flamethrower
Misiorowski's rise has been rapid. Drafted 63rd overall out of Crowder College in the 2022 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut with the Brewers on June 12, 2025, and has since earned NL All-Star selections in both 2025 and 2026, according to MLB.com. He set the record for the fastest pitch thrown by a starting pitcher in the pitch-tracking era at 105.5 mph against the Chicago Cubs in June, per CBS Sports, after previously throwing a single-game record 57 pitches at 100-plus mph against St. Louis that May. Hoodline has tracked his dominance on the mound throughout the season, including a start where he silenced the Yankees lineup with fastballs reaching 103.6 mph.
A Quarter-Century of Literacy Work in Milwaukee
SHARP Literacy has delivered innovative programming to urban elementary students for 30 years, tracing its roots to a 1994 concept from Milwaukee Art Museum docent Marlene Doerr Kreilkamp before formally launching in 1996 as an arts-integrated reading program serving 900 students across 13 schools. The organization has since grown considerably, now delivering STEAM-based experiential learning to roughly 8,500 elementary students in grades K3 through 5 across 50 public, choice and charter schools in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine counties, according to SHARP Literacy. One flagship offering is its Design Through Code program, a 16-to-18-week curriculum for fourth and fifth graders that blends computer coding with art and includes field trips to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and Milwaukee School of Engineering, culminating in student presentations to area STEAM professionals.
That work continues against a difficult backdrop for reading achievement in the region. Reading proficiency among Milwaukee Public Schools students on the 2023-2024 Wisconsin Forward Exam stood at 23.4%, up from 15.8% the prior testing cycle, per the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Wisconsin has responded with new statutory pressure: under Act 20, public and charter school districts have been required since the 2024-2025 academic year to administer early literacy screeners to all students in grades K4 through 3, with third-grade reading proficiency tied to the Forward Exam, according to Milwaukee Public Schools.
Ballpark Setting, Family Activities and a Live Auction
The fundraiser will take place at American Family Field, home of the Brewers, and guests are encouraged to wear their favorite sports jersey or come fan casual for the occasion. Families attending will have access to The Glove Playground, which includes a mini Bernie Brewer slide and interactive baseball-themed activities, alongside ballpark-inspired food and beverage stations, a live auction, raffles and award presentations.
Two honors will be presented during the evening: Baird and the Phillips Ristau Group/Baird Advisors will each receive a Literacy Champion Award for their commitment to SHARP's mission. Standard individual tickets are priced at $200, with VIP tickets at $250 and tickets for children under 12 set at $50; the event also offers special pricing for a VIP family pack along with various levels of corporate and individual sponsorships. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (414) 410-3205.
SHARP Literacy's annual benefit has drawn high-profile Wisconsin sports figures before. Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and author Donald Driver served as keynote speaker for the organization's 24th annual A Novel Event, held last October at the Baird Center Ballroom in downtown Milwaukee, per FOX6 News Milwaukee. This year's move to American Family Field and Misiorowski's ties to his own dyslexia story give the 25th anniversary edition a distinct local resonance, as SHARP Literacy continues serving thousands of elementary students across southeastern Wisconsin.
