FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2025
2nd & 7 Welcomes Alissa Harle Janice as New Executive Director
Amy Hoying takes Vice Chair seat on Board of Directors
[Columbus, Ohio] – 2nd & 7, a leading nonprofit organization focused on promoting reading by providing free books and positive role models to kids in need while encouraging young athletes of the community to pay it forward, is pleased to welcome Alissa Harle Janice as its new Executive Director. Alissa will officially assume the role at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Alissa to 2nd & 7," said Ryan Miller, 2nd & 7 Co-Founder and Board Chair. "Alissa brings a remarkable blend of strategic leadership, community engagement, and a passion for ‘Tackling Illiteracy’ that aligns perfectly with our vision & mission."
Alissa succeeds Amy Hoying, who has served as Executive Director since inception in 1999. In 26 years, Amy was responsible for distributing over 1,000,000 books to 2nd graders by 10,000+ student-athletes in 26 different states. Amy will take on a new leadership role by serving as Vice Chair of the 2nd & 7 Board, allowing Alissa to grow 2nd & 7’s impact and oversee all day-to-day operations.
“It has been a blessing to be a part of 2nd & 7 for so long, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this next chapter at 2nd & 7,” Hoying said. “We have an amazing staff and I know that with Alissa’s leadership, 2nd & 7 will continue to have a tremendous impact in the community,” Hoying said. “I am so grateful to all of the people who have been a part of this huddle who make 2nd & 7 so special.”
The Board of Directors extends its deep gratitude for Amy’s exceptional leadership and vision and awarded her as the most recent recipient of the “Legacy of Literacy Award” at the most recent Pay It FOREward Golf Outing.
"We can’t thank Amy enough for dedicating her time and talent to allow 2nd & 7 to grow to where it is today. Her passion, energy and personal care has made a huge impact on the lives of so many,” said Mike Vrabel, 2nd & 7 Co-Founder and New England Patriots Head Coach. “I have no doubt that she will be amazing leading our board and continue to tackle illiteracy."
Before joining 2nd & 7, Alissa served as the Corporate Sponsorship Manager at The Ohio State University, where she supported the university’s affinity partners and the Alumni Association through strategic sponsorship initiatives. Prior to that, she worked for the Byron Nelson tournament, a PGA TOUR event in Dallas, Texas, whose primary beneficiary is Momentous Institute, an innovative elementary school focused on social-emotional health. A proud graduate of Otterbein University, Alissa was first introduced to 2nd & 7 as a communications student-intern and has since been a dedicated advocate for literacy and accessibility.
"I'm honored to join 2nd & 7 and to build on the incredible foundation that has already been laid," said Alissa. "I look forward to working alongside our incredible staff, partners, and supporters to deepen our impact and expand our reach."
About 2nd & 7
2nd & 7 was founded in 1999 by former Ohio State University football teammates Luke Fickell, Ryan Miller and Mike Vrabel. The mission of 2nd & 7 is to promote reading by providing free books and positive role models to kids in need while encouraging young athletes in the community to pay it forward. Through 2nd & 7's Role Model Reading Program, student-athletes from universities and high schools across the nation participate in reading visits in 2nd grade classrooms. The athletes use the themes in the book series created by 2nd & 7, the Hog Mollies, to reiterate valuable life lessons, serve as role models for young children in their community and underline the importance of being respectful, doing their homework, and reading every night. Each student in the program receives a FREE Hog Mollies book. 2nd & 7 has donated over a million books to kids in need to nearly 200 communities in 26 states through the reading program. In 2023, 2nd & 7 opened the Columbus Kids’ Book Bank, providing the central Ohio community with a valuable resource for donating new and gently used kids’ books. Since opening their doors in 2023 over 127,000 books have been distributed from the book bank to children, teachers, schools, families and organizations that serve kids.
For more information, visit www.secondandseven.com.
Contact:
Ryan Miller, 2nd & 7 Board Chair & Co-Founder
ryan.miller@m2marketing.com
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