Malcolm developed a love of reading. Initially, it was a challenge. But through perseverance, books became an avenue for expanding his curiosity, creativity and learning. He also wanted to pass that love and benefits of reading to others and help them discover the magic of books.

He began visiting elementary schools to read to students and talk about literacy. “When I was growing up, reading was for straight-A students,” Malcolm says. “Reading was for people who wore glasses. I didn’t realize its universal power for everyone. I still watch every movie with subtitles to continue reading. For me, reading broke down all the barriers that my statistics had predicted: a disadvantaged, African-American boy, from a single-mother home, no access to my father. But by learning to read, those statistics are no longer relevant.”

While a student athlete, Malcolm was recognized for his work. He was named the National Captain of the Allstate Good Works Team, the first student ever at UGA to win this honor. He also received the National Haier Achievement Award for his success beyond athletics. Additionally, Malcolm was the recipient of the Atlanta Sports Council Community Service Award, the Georgia Chapter of the National College Football Hall of Fame Jack Turner Award, and the UGA Student Athlete of the Year Award. He graduated in December 2015 from the University of Georgia with a degree in Communications.

In 2015, Malcolm authored and published a children’s book, The Magician’s Hat and created a youth literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm. In 2016, he established a 501c3 organization, Share the Magic Foundation. The non-profit’s mission is to transform children’s lives through literacy. Since its founding, the Foundation has placed books in the hands of more than 65,000 young readers and provided Read with Malcolm Literacy Programs to over 300,000 students. In 2021, the Foundation received the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration for its work in under-resourced communities.

Malcolm’s inspirational story has been featured nationally on CBS Evening News, CBS News Sunday Morning, CBS Sports, ESPN, USA Today, CNN, MSNBC and the NFL Network, and in numerous magazines and newspaper articles, including USA Today and Sports Illustrated Kids. In 2015, a documentary about Malcolm won College Sports Media’s Outstanding Special Feature award.

In May 2016, Malcolm was drafted by the New England Patriots, and in February 2017 he became a Super Bowl Champion. Malcolm received an Accommodation from the State of Georgia and a “Key to City of Valdosta, GA” for his work on and off the professional football field. In April 2017, Malcolm was honored at the 20th Anniversary of the President’s Summit for America’s Future and received the Promise Hero Award for his contributions to youth in America by the America’s Promise Alliance. Malcolm received the Foundations Inc. Champion of Children Award and the Pinnacle Award from The International Dyslexia Association for his contributions to individuals with reading differences, and in 2018, he received the Youth Literacy Award from Read to a Child. In 2019, Malcolm was named by the University of Georgia as one of the University’s “40 under 40,” and in 2020, he became a member of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40.” The SCLC honored Malcolm in 2021 with the President’s Award recognizing his literacy advocacy in underserved communities.

Among Malcolm’s numerous awards and accomplishments both on and off the field, he considers discovering a love of reading one of his greatest achievements. Retired from the NFL, Malcolm serves as CEO of his foundation, focusing his time on his organization’s overall growth, development and impact. In addition to sharing his personal story with organizations, Malcolm also travels the country hosting Reading Rallies. This hour-long in-school program takes a traditional author’s visit and combines it with a pep rally for a high-energy, innovative reading experience for an entire school. A magician adds unexpected excitement, and every student receives a copy of Malcolm’s book. Teachers receive a Read with Malcolm Teacher’s Guide to extend learning in the classroom and connect with Read with Malcolm’s year-round virtual reading challenges. Malcolm is happy to provide a Reading Rally at one or more schools in your school district during his visit with you. Learn more about Reading Rallies. Malcolm also customizes his presentations to each individual event and audience.