Aerospace Systems Engineer Tracy Drain reads “Hidden Figures” and has lively interaction via Zoom with 4^th Grade Class at Esperanza Elementary School in Los Angeles

Wellesley, MA, June 25, 2020 – National literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child^® today announced its Remote Read Aloud Program. As part of the new program, Tracy Drain, a Systems Engineer working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been recorded reading aloud the children’s book Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. With its Remote Read Aloud program, Read to a Child is bringing the magic of reading aloud to students at home across the country.

Ms. Drain is joined on this inspirational, virtual “story hour” by 18 fourth grade students from Esperanza Elementary School in downtown Los Angeles, CA as well as their teacher, Jill Heuberger, Principal Brad Rumble and Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux.

The Hidden Figures picture book is illustrated by Laura Freeman, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree, and celebrates the extraordinary contributions of African American women to scientific and technological advancement and is based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie of the same name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o7Q9HZAW54 After listening to the story, students ask Ms. Drain questions about her work on space missions in an interactive Q&A. Thanks to permission from publisher Harper Collins, the entire video is available on YouTube here for all classes, students and families to enjoy at home. The video can also be found at this link https://tinyurl.com/Read-Hidden-Figures..

As a woman of color and a leader in a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) field, Ms. Drain continues the legacy of Hidden Figures today. Recently named the Lead Flight Systems Engineer for the Europa Clipper mission, a spacecraft that will study Jupiter’s moon Europa, her past missions also include spacecraft orbiting Mars and Jupiter.

 “It was delightful to get to interact with the wonderful kids at Esperanza,” says Tracy Drain. “Reading has had such an enormous influence on my life that I applaud any program that strives to foster a love of reading in young people! It felt particularly special to share a book with the students that touches on topics near and dear to my heart: how people can achieve amazing feats through math and engineering, and the importance of equality and empowerment for everyone, including people who are just like me, and just like them.”

“We are so thankful to Tracy for being such a wonderful role model, and for bringing her wisdom and grace to a class of remote learners and to the world,” said Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux. “We, and partner schools such as Esperanza Elementary in Los Angeles, recognize the huge factor that reading aloud to children plays in eventual success in reading and the great importance of being a strong reader for academic and professional success.”

To find out more about Read to a Child’s Remote Read Aloud Program visit the web page https://readtoachild.org/program/remote-read-aloud-program or click here for other videos, including R.J. Palacio reading her #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book Wonder and Jordan Gershowitz, Nickelodeon head writer, reading his children’s book Ignore the Trolls. All titles in the Remote Read Aloud program are books about empowerment, equity or inclusion.

Visit https://readtoachild.org/program/read-aloud-resources or click here to find out more about Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Resources web page which includes: five tips for getting the most out of reading aloud to your child/student; racial justice and equity resources; read aloud from home resources; celebrity, author and other read aloud videos; useful websites; and a huge list of Free eBooks.

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child (readtoachild.org) is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to underserved children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 2,000 volunteer mentors from the community and from 150 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to 1,500 at-risk elementary students in the greater metro areas of Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, and Miami. Read to a Child also reaches and inspires thousands more children across the country in its Remote Read Aloud Program and Celebrity Reading Program where notable authors, celebrities, athletes and politicians read aloud to groups of children either online or in-person.

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Media contact:
Natalie Ellis

Development and Communication Coordinator

Read to a Child
natalie.ellis@readtoachild.org

(910) 585-0367

For Immediate Release

Share the Magic Foundation and Read to a Child partner to improve literacy rates and reading proficiency while introducing book ownership to young readers

Boston, MA, December 10, 2018 – Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh read aloud today to nearly 100 first-grade students at James F. Condon School in South Boston. The event was sponsored by Super Bowl LI Champion Malcolm Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation and national literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child^® as part of a collaborative initiative to address the literacy crisis in the United States. Photos from today’s event (from Cynthia August Images) can be accessed here.

Read to a Child and Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation – the nonprofit organization which is part of his Read with Malcolm Youth Literacy Initiative – have teamed up with the Boston Mayor’s Office to improve literacy rates and reading proficiency while introducing book ownership to young readers in under-resourced public schools.  Today, every first grader at Condon received a personal copy of Mitchell’s children’s book, “The Magician’s Hat,” which highlights the importance of reading in achieving dreams.

“I’m excited to have Read to a Child and Share the Magic Foundation as partners again this year as we continue to foster a love of reading among our Boston Public School students,” said Mayor Walsh. “These organizations not only donate books, but they give our students hope and encouragement, and that is something that our students will not forget.”

“Mayor Walsh’s commitment to promoting literacy and closing the achievement gap is evident,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux.  “After seeing the Mayor read Malcolm Mitchell’s book today while conducting a lively interaction with the Condon first graders, his love for Boston public school children is also extremely evident.”

“We are pleased to partner with Mayor Walsh and Read to a Child and provide each Condon school first grade student with a copy of ”The Magician’s Hat” for their home library,” said Beth Pann, Executive Director of Share the Magic Foundation. Malcolm Mitchell added “New England holds a special place in my heart, and inspiring young people to read and to succeed by placing books in their hands is the cornerstone of my mission.”

“Our school is very appreciative of Share the Magic Foundation for providing numerous copies of ‘The Magician’s Hat’ and of Read to a Child for providing so many volunteer reading mentors, said Robert Chisholm, Principal of Condon K-8 School.  “I continually see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students. Not only are students developing a love for reading and improving literacy skills, but as part of the mentoring relationships that develop, their self-confidence is improving as well.”

The Condon School is one of 16 public schools in greater Boston where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Read to a Child recruits and manages a force of thousands of corporate volunteers that visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to at-risk children during lunch.  This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with the skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

Today’s literacy event is part of a collaborative effort between Read to a Child and Share the Magic Foundation to get kids excited about reading through events and programs both organizations offer. The collaborative effort began in 2017 with the organizations sponsoring a series of read aloud events in greater Boston schools and libraries where Malcolm (or celebrities like Mayor Walsh) read “The Magician’s Hat” to elementary school students and provided each student with a copy of the book for their personal library.

In conjunction with Read to a Child’s Magic of Reading Gala and Share the Magic Foundation’s registration for READBowl, Mayor Walsh officially proclaimed the week of November 11-17 as “Literacy Week in Boston.”  READBowl is a national reading challenge that provides teachers with free resources to motivate students to read more in the classroom. The competition begins the day of the College Football National Championship on January 7 and winners will be announced during the Super Bowl on February 3. Classroom teachers can get more information and register for READBowl at www.readwithmalcolm.com/readbowl.

The collaborative literacy initiative will continue through National Reading Month in March 2019.  During the month, Share the Magic Foundation will host its Magical Evening of Literacy Gala with Malcolm Mitchell in Boston and Read to a Child will conduct read aloud events with celebrities as well as host its month-long annual online fundraising campaign “Help Kids in Need Love to Read.”

About Share the Magic Foundation

Share the Magic Foundation (www.readwithmalcolm.com) was founded in 2016 by Author and Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell with a sole purpose: to transform children’s lives through literacy. The Foundation’s Read with Malcolm literacy initiatives are aimed at inspiring positive attitudes towards reading, especially among students who are below grade-level readers. The mission of Share the Magic Foundation is to inspire young people to read by bringing book ownership to students in Title I schools and under-resourced communities.

About Read to a Child

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that fosters a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and empowers underserved children by inspiring adults to read aloud to them regularly.  Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,800 volunteer mentors from over 150 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

Media contact:   Margaret Carr    781-724-8770   margaret.carr@readtoachild.org

BOSTON, November 13, 2018 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child^® will host its ‘Magic of Reading’ Gala at the Marriott Downtown Tremont in Boston on Thursday, November 15th beginning at 6:30pm. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Read to a Child alumnus Luther Evans and Read to a Child reading mentor Pamela Giannatsis will be featured speakers at the event.

Mayor Walsh will receive Read to a Child’s Literacy Champion Award and will also highlight the importance of reading and mentoring in boosting literacy skills and self-confidence among at-risk public school students. Luther Evans will talk about how his profound experience with his reading mentor (Pam Giannatsis) in the Lunchtime Reading Program set him up for college and for success. America’s Got Talent (AGT) contestant and New England Patriots unofficial magician, John Duke Logan will perform and world-class auctioneer Charles Bailey Gates will host the live auction.

WHEN:

Thursday, November 15, 2018

• 6:30PM Event Begins, Guests/Media Arrive, Silent Auction Opens
• 7:00PM Magician John Duke Logan performs
• 7:45PM Mayor Walsh Arrives
• 8:00PM Governor Baker Remarks (Video) and Mayor Walsh Award
• 8:10PM Mayor Walsh and Luther Evans Remarks
• 8:30PM Live Auction and ‘Fund the Need’ with Charles Bailey Gates
• 9:00PM Auction Closes
• 9:30PM Event Ends

WHERE:  

• Marriott Boston Downtown/Theater District  – 275 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108

WHO:  

• Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh
• Framingham State sophomore and computer science major, Luther Evans
• Magician John Duke Logan
• Auctioneer Charles Bailey Gates
• Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux,
• Hundreds of education leaders, area philanthropists and corporate partners

WHAT: 

• Inspiring speakers and entertaining performers
• Read to a Child Literacy Champion Award presentation
• Live and silent auction with more than 70 items
• Food, drink, fun and networking in support of Read to a Child

WHY:

• 80% of low income 4^th graders in the United States cannot read proficiently and 1/4 of these struggling youth won’t graduate from high school! The Gala supports Read to a Child’s efforts to address this alarming societal issue.

HOW:

• For Tickets, Donations, or to Register for the online silent auction visit https://biddingforgood.com/readtoachild/bostongala2018

MEDIA:  Margaret Carr, margaret.carr@readtoachild.org, 781-489-5910

Hartford, CT, September 24, 2018 – Hartford City Council President Glendowlyn L.H. Thames and Mayor Luke Bronin’s Office today presented the Hartford Volunteer of the Month Award to long-time Read to a Child volunteer reading mentor Richard Wasserman.

A partner at Day Pitney LLP, Mr. Wasserman received the coveted award for his outstanding commitment to at-risk children in Hartford as both a Lunchtime Reading Program mentor at the Betances School and as Read to a Child’s regional board chair.  Read to a Child is a national non-profit literacy and mentoring organization with programs in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

Each month, based on nominations from members of the community, one adult and one youth are selected by representatives from the Mayor’s office, City Council, and relevant City departments to receive a Volunteer of the Month Award.

Mayor Bronin stated, “Read to a Child is an important partner for Hartford Public Schools. Mr. Wasserman’s leadership as the Regional Board Chair and volunteer shows his strong commitment to improving children’s literacy in our city. On behalf of the City of Hartford, I express our sincere gratitude.”

Mr. Wasserman added, “I am honored to receive this award.  I accept it on behalf of Read to a Child and my Board colleagues who continuously work to garner resources and recruit volunteers for Read to a Child.  My volunteer work in the classroom is always one of the best parts of my week.  I hope others will consider this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life.”

“I am extremely pleased that Rich has been recognized for his outstanding service. Not only is he a wonderful role model for the children he mentors, but he is also an excellent board chair and a civic minded member of the community,” said Paul Lamoureux, CEO of Read to a Child. “On behalf of Read to a Child and the many thousands of students who have participated in the Lunchtime Reading Program, I sincerely thank Rich for his service and for his dedication to improving children’s literacy among those most in need.”

About Read to a Child:

 Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that fosters a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and empowers underserved children by inspiring adults to read aloud to them regularly.  Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,800 volunteer mentors from over 150 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

Media contact:
Kelsey Landeck
Read to a Child
781-489-5910
kelsey.landeck@readtoachild.org

Read to a Child and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Event Highlights the Importance of Improving Children’s Literacy Skills

Los Angeles, CA, September 17, 2018 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child^® and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation today announced that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling will visit Tenth Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday September 18 and read aloud to elementary school students in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program. The event (which begins at 12:00 noon) highlights Read to a Child’s ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in improving children’s literacy skills among those most at-risk in the community, while underscoring how partnerships with area corporations create better opportunities for underserved children.

Children from Tenth Street Elementary Schools will participate in the event. The school is among the six public elementary schools in greater Los Angeles where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Across the US, Read to a Child manages more than 1,800 adult volunteers from more than 150 corporations who visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch. This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with literacy skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“We are pleased to support Read to a Child, a great compliment to our LA Reads program, and its innovative model of utilizing adult volunteers from area corporations to act as reading mentors in public schools,” said Nichol Whiteman Executive Director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Initiatives and programs designed to improve the lives and literacy skills of those most underserved in the community are a significant focus of our foundation. We are honored to partner with the Dodgers to bring Dodger players and alumni into classrooms as positive role models in order to highlight the importance of literacy and help build a lifelong love of reading at an early age.”

“We are thankful to the Dodger organization for raising awareness of the literacy crisis and to the Dodgers Foundation for their financial support, both of which are critical in enabling Read to a Child to grow to serve the hundreds of struggling children that remain on our waiting lists across greater Los Angeles,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux. “Because 80% of 4^th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient readers and one-fourth won’t graduate from high school, support is imperative in order to help under-resourced public elementary schools address this crisis.”

At Tuesday’s event, students from Tenth Street Elementary School will present Ross Stripling a personal copy of “Chrysanthemum”, signed by the children in the Lunchtime Reading Program. Mr. Stripling will then read the book aloud to the students and also elicit questions from the students at the end of the story. Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance to share all year round.

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that fosters a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and empowers underserved children by inspiring adults to read aloud to them regularly.  Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,800 volunteer mentors from over 125 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

About the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

LADF is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its primary focus is to support cornerstone programs in Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy and Health + Wellness benefitting children and families in need throughout the greater Los Angeles region. By leveraging strategic partnerships, the mission is to harness the power of the Dodger brand and the passion our fans have for Los Angeles into a vehicle for positive change in under-served communities. Visit the Dodgers Foundation online at www.dodgers.com/ladf, follow them on Twitter @DodgersFdn, Instagram @dodgersfoundation and like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesDodgersFoundation

Media contact:

Alex Fey

Los Angeles Director

Read to a Child

c: 714-398-9246

alex.fey@readtoachild.org

BOSTON – Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 – Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s scheduled visit to read to 85 first grade students at the Condon School in South Boston tomorrow has been postponed. Unfortunately the Mayor must attend a funeral.

The event, sponsored by national literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child® and Malcolm Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation, the nonprofit arm of his youth literacy initiative Read With Malcolm, will be rescheduled this fall. Stay tuned.

Media Contact: Jillian Hammell, jhammell@webershandwick.com (617) 520-7259

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Read to a Child adds Margaret Carr as National Vice President of Development

Signals new era of philanthropic growth for national literacy & mentoring non-profit

Wellesley, MA, April 10, 2018 – National literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child^® today announced the appointment of Margaret Sullivan-Carr M.B.A., Ed.D. as its National Vice President of Development.  In this newly created role, Margaret will support the organization’s strategic plan growth goals and improve literacy skills and self-confidence in more than 1,750 at-risk children nationwide in the next two years. This hire signals the next era of philanthropic development for Read to a Child, which plans on increasing sustainable fundraising sources by 40%.

Most recently an adjunct professor at Lesley University and Director of Development and Marketing at South Shore Mental Health, Margaret has a strong track record of growing awareness and philanthropic revenue at a wide variety of mission-driven organizations. Prior to South Shore Mental Health, Margaret held key positions at Stonehill College, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Sister to Sister, Carney Hospital, and Visiting Nurse Associations.

“I am thrilled with Margaret’s decision to join Read to a Child and help us retain, grow and diversify our sources of philanthropic revenue,” said Paul Lamoureux, CEO of Read to a Child. “Our primary strategic objective is to serve 30% more at-risk students by end of FY19 and Margaret will be critical in these efforts.” Continued Lamoureux, “Margaret’s skill, passion, connections, expertise and commitment to our mission will be invaluable in enabling Read to a Child to grow and thrive in all of our regions nationwide.”

“I am excited to join Read to a Child and support its powerful mission,” said Margaret Carr.  “Fostering a love of reading among under-served children is a critical catalyst for learning and for success in life.”  Continues Carr, “I look forward to growing Read to a Child through its passionate base of stakeholders, as well as through new sources of philanthropy, with the ultimate goal of serving more children and enabling more successful futures.”

Margaret’s selection was based upon a nationwide search by New Kensington Associates of Andover, MA, a lengthy interview process, and the involvement and input of a myriad of Read to a Child staff and board members. Although national in scope, this position is based in Wellesley, MA.

In this new role, Margaret is a member of the organization’s senior leadership team, reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and is responsible for advancing Read to a Child’s mission by raising financial resources nationally and locally. She will provide support to the organization’s regional directors, volunteer leadership and development directors so that they are better able to generate philanthropic support for local programs and operations. Click here for Margaret’s LinkedIn profile.

About Read to a Child:
Read to a Child (www.readtoachild.org) is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for their future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school and life. Read to a Child currently partners with more than 125 corporations and institutions nationwide that provide 1,800 volunteers who read aloud to more than 1,400 under-served elementary school students in greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

For Read to a Child 
Elizabeth Dugan, Communications and Event Coordinator, 781-489-5910,
lizzy.dugan@readtoachild.org

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Read to a Child and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Event during National Reading Month Highlights the Importance of Improving Children’s Literacy Skills

Los Angeles, CA, March 15, 2018 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child® and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation today announced that Los Angeles Dodgers Alumnus Matt Luke will visit Tenth Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA on Thursday March 15 and read aloud to elementary school students in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program. The event (which begins at 12:00 noon) highlights Read to a Child’s ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in improving children’s literacy skills among those most at-risk in the community, while underscoring how partnerships with area corporations create better opportunities for underserved children.

Children from Tenth Street Elementary Schools will participate in the event. The school is among the six public elementary schools in greater Los Angeles where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Across the US, Read to a Child manages 1,700 adult volunteers from 125 corporations who visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch. This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with literacy skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“We are pleased to support Read to a Child, a great compliment to our LA Reads program, and its innovative model of utilizing adult volunteers from area corporations to act as reading mentors in public schools,” said Nichol Whiteman Executive Director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Initiatives and programs designed to improve the lives and literacy skills of those most underserved in the community are a significant focus of our foundation. We are honored to partner with the Dodgers to bring Dodger players and alumni into classrooms as positive role models in order to highlight the importance of literacy and help build a lifelong love of reading at an early age.”

“We are thankful to the Dodger organization for raising awareness of the literacy crisis and to the Dodgers Foundation for their financial support, both of which are critical in enabling Read to a Child to grow to serve the hundreds of struggling children that remain on our waiting lists across greater Los Angeles,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux. “Because 80% of 4th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient readers and one-fourth won’t graduate from high school, support is imperative in order to help under-resourced public elementary schools address this crisis.”

At Thursday’s event, students from Tenth Street Elementary School will present Matt Luke with a personal copy of “The Giving Tree”, signed by the children in the Lunchtime Reading Program. Mr. Luke will then read the book aloud to the students and also elicit questions from the students at the end of the story.

Volunteer reading mentors from Read to a Child corporate partners Kirkland & Ellis LLP, AEG, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Quinn Emanuel LLP will also be on hand for the event, along with their reading “mentees.” These volunteers typically dedicate one lunch hour per week during the school year to mentor a child struggling with reading and this beneficial relationship often lasts for four years.

“I deeply value our partnership with Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said William Otto, Principal of Tenth Street Elementary School. “In addition to the mentoring relationships that develop, I see our students learning to love books.” Principal Otto added, “I believe strongly that developing a love of reading gives children an important tool to ensure that they are lifelong learners. Our partnership with Read to a Child is an important part of helping our students become lifelong readers and lifelong learners.”

About Read to a Child:
Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school, career and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,700 volunteers from more than 125 socially-minded organizations who read aloud to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami.

About the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation:
LADF is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its primary focus is to support cornerstone programs in Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy and Health + Wellness benefitting children and families in need throughout the greater Los Angeles region. By leveraging strategic partnerships, the mission is to harness the power of the Dodger brand and the passion our fans have for Los Angeles into a vehicle for positive change in under-served communities. Visit the Dodgers Foundation online at www.dodgers.com/ladf, follow them on Twitter @DodgersFdn,Instagram @dodgersfoundation and like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesDodgersFoundation

Media contact:
Alex Fey
Los Angeles Director
Read to a Child
c: 714-398-9246
w: 310-208-5310
alex.fey@readtoachild.org

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 28, 2018

Read to a Child to host the Motor City Read-A-Thon

Connecting caring adults from all sectors of the community to students to support literacy growth

Detroit — February 28, 2018 — In celebration of National Reading Month in March, literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child, Inc. will host the 2nd Annual Motor City Read-A-Thon, a month long initiative was created to increase awareness of the critical importance of improving literacy skills among underserved students, as well as to highlight the power of reading aloud to children to enable their future in academic success.  

Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence.

“Reading to children is so important because learning to read opens up an enormous world of opportunity that lasts a lifetime.  Being able to read is the key to personal development and full engagement in society,” said David Walker, EVP/CFO, Level One Bank and Read to a Child Metro Detroit’s Advisory Board Chair.

The Motor City Read-A-Thon will kick off on Thursday, March 1, 2018 with celebrities and luminaries representing a wide array of community minded corporations and organizations reading to children at 3 of Read to a Child’s partner schools in Metro Detroit.  Featured readers for the event include:

• Earl Cureton, NBA Legends – Detroit Pistons and Community Ambassador
• Paulette Epstein, Planetarium Manager and Astronomer – Michigan Science Center
• Andrew Humphrey, Meteorologist and Reporter – WDIV Channel 4
• Mark K. Lose, Director – Reading Recovery Center of Michigan Oakland University
• Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent – Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Donna Satterfield, Vice President, Community Impact – United Way for Southeastern Michigan
• Keenan Smith, Meteorologist – WXYZ Channel 7
• Tosha Tabron, Vice President, Relationship Manager Global Philanthropy – JPMorgan Chase
• Deirdre Young, Vice President, Health and Equity – United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Reading celebrations will continue throughout the month of March at all of our partner school locations, where students will participate in Read to a Child’s regularly scheduled Lunchtime Reading Program as well as in read aloud sessions by featured readers from Bank of America, Comerica Bank and DTE Energy.  The Reading Month activities will also include book giveaways to every student in grades K-2 at each of the participating schools to create and/or add to their home library.  Book donations were made possible through the kind donations of the Detroit Chapter of the Kiwanis Club, Sachse Construction, and hundreds of caring adults from throughout Southeastern Michigan.  

“District partnerships that are focused on reading, and exposing our students to various forms of literacy are great opportunities for children to connect with caring adults who are also passionate about reading.  I look forward to reading at Bow Elementary during the Motor City Read-A-Thon,” said Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District.

“I had the pleasure of obtaining my entire education in Detroit Public Schools and deeply recognize the importance that community support has on a child’s life,” said Ky Lindberg, Metro Detroit Director for Read to a Child. Continues Lindberg, “Now I’m proud to lead Read to a Child’s efforts in Detroit to not only reinforce the critical importance of improving literacy skills but also to demonstrate to students that reading is really fun.”  

Read to a Child has supported students throughout Metro Detroit for more than 6 years in its Lunchtime Reading Program.  This school year, volunteer reading mentors have supported over 750 one on one read aloud sessions for students in Detroit and Pontiac Public Schools and our participating students have observed measurable growth in self-confidence, reading and enthusiasm for reading since entering the program.  

In order to continue to serve the students in our community, Read to a Child relies on contributions of both time and financial resources from the community.  For the entire month of March, Read to a Child is committed to raising $10,000 to support 600 one-on-one Lunchtime Reading Program sessions and add 100 volunteer mentors to support the program at schools in Detroit and Pontiac.  To volunteer or donate, visit www.readtoachild.org or contact Ky Lindberg at ky.lindberg@readtoachild.org or 248-508-2770.

About Read to a Child  

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization with a mission to foster a love of reading, improve literacy skills and empower underserved children by inspiring adults to read to them regularly.. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,700 volunteer mentors from more than 100 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,300 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, and Miami.

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 31, 2017

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 2, 2017

Framingham Superintendent Tremblay and Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux join the First Lady at the Brophy School to highlight the importance of literacy

Framingham, MA, October 2, 2017 – National literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child® announced that Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker read to children in its Lunchtime Reading Program today at the Brophy Elementary School in Framingham, MA.  The first lady was joined by Framingham Public Schools (FPS) Superintendent Dr. Robert A. Tremblay and Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux to highlight the importance of boosting literacy and socio-emotional skills to help close the achievement gap. Photos from today’s event can be found at the end of the release.

The Brophy Elementary School is one of 17 public schools in greater Boston where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Nationally, Read to a Child enlists and manages a force of 1,700 corporate volunteers from more than 125 organizations that visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to at-risk children during lunch.  This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with the skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“Sharing our passion for reading is an important lesson for our children, and I applaud Read to a Child and its innovative model for mentoring at-risk students during their formative years,” said First Lady Lauren Baker.  “Many of our fondest memories as a family are of reading together and I am proud to join these volunteers who are ensuring the Commonwealth’s next generation of leaders have the opportunity to learn, read and succeed.”

“Improving literacy and socio-emotional skills in our youngest students is a major factor toward closing the achievement gap,” said FPS Superintendent Tremblay. “I am thankful to First Lady Lauren Baker, Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux, and all of our community partners for helping us in these critical efforts.”

“By the time children reach fourth grade, reading skills become a critical component of learning and also an indicator of graduation rates and future success,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux.  “I am so thankful that the First Lady is with us today to highlight the importance of developing literacy skills early enough to provide underserved children with a strong foundation for school, work and life.”

At today’s event, second graders from the Brophy School presented the First Lady with a personal copy of ‘The Magician’s Hat,’ signed by Brophy students and by its author, New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. The First Lady proceeded to read the book to the students and because the book ends with the question, “What are your dreams?”, the First Lady engaged students in a spirited discussion. 

After the read-aloud session, the First Lady and Superintendent thanked Read to a Child corporate partners for providing both financial support and nearly 100 volunteer reading mentors for the Lunchtime Reading Program at the Brophy School. Read to a Child partners at the Brophy School include Bose Corporation, Boston Heart Diagnostics, New York Life, Sanofi Genzyme, TJX and Staples.

“I deeply value Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said Brophy School Principal Frank Rothwell.  “Not only is our partnership with Read to a Child crucial in improving our students’ literacy skills, but the mentoring relationships that develop serve to foster a love of reading that will certainly enable our students’ future success.”

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to under-served children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,700 volunteer mentors from over 125 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,300 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Hartford, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.  

Photos from today’s event (by Robert Castagna) can be downloaded here:

http://www.eventphotographyboston.com/Private-Galleries/Read-to-a-Child-with-First-Lady

Media contact:
Lizzy Dugan
781-489-5910
ldugan@readtoachild.org

###

For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 28, 2017

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang and Eastern Bank President Quincy Miller Highlight the Value of Partnerships in Closing the Achievement Gap

Boston, MA, Sept. 28, 2017 – National literacy and mentoring non-profit Read to a Child® announced that Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh read aloud to children in its Lunchtime Reading Program today at the Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School in Roxbury.  The mayor was joined by Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Dr. Tommy Chang, Eastern Bank President Quincy Miller and Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux to highlight the importance of non-profit, corporate and community partnerships to help close the achievement gap and boost literacy skills in greater Boston public schools. Photos from today’s event can be accessed via a link at the end of this release.

The Tobin K-8 School is one of 17 public schools in greater Boston where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Read to a Child enlists and manages a force of 1,700 corporate volunteers from more than 125 organizations that visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to at-risk children during lunch.  This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with the skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“Thank you to Read to a Child and to the many area businesses that provide volunteer reading mentors for the Lunchtime Reading Program in our public schools,” said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. “These partnerships strengthen our efforts in boosting literacy skills among our students and closing the achievement gap. Because of the support from organizations like Eastern Bank, our children get the extra help and attention they need for a brighter future.”

“Improving literacy and social-emotional skills in our youngest students is a major factor toward closing the opportunity and achievement gap,” said BPS Superintendent Chang. “I am thankful to Eastern Bank, Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux, and all of our community partners for helping us in these crucial efforts.”

“Mayor Walsh and Superintendent Chang’s commitment to promoting literacy and closing the achievement gap is evident,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux.  “In addition, Eastern Bank’s support, along with that of our other corporate partners, is critical in enabling Read to a Child to serve the hundreds of struggling children that remain on our waiting lists in resource-challenged schools.”

“Supporting Read to a Child’s work in bringing community volunteers into under-resourced schools is a natural investment for us and a great way for us to give back to the community,” said Eastern Bank President Quincy Miller. “To support the work of outstanding non-profits, Eastern Bank utilizes our Charitable Foundation to contribute, in a meaningful way, to the health and vitality of the communities in which we operate.”

At today’s event, students from the Tobin School presented Mayor Walsh, Superintendent Chang and Eastern Bank President Quincy Miller with personal copies of ‘The Magician’s Hat,’ each signed by author and New England Patriot’s wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. The Mayor went on to read this book to the students and engaged them in a lively discussion.  Because the book ends with the question, “What are your dreams?” the Mayor received many imaginative responses from the students.

After the read-aloud session, the Mayor and Superintendent thanked Eastern Bank for its financial support of the Lunchtime Reading Program and thanked Read to a Child corporate partners for providing both financial support and more than 120 volunteer reading mentors for the Lunchtime Reading Program at the Tobin School. Read to a Child partners include ArcLight Capital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Charles River Associates, Citi Private Bank, Harvard School of Public Health, New England Journal of Medicine, Partners HealthCare, Posternak, Blankstein & Lund, LLP, and Wayfair.

“I deeply value our partnership with Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said Efrain Toledano, Tobin K-8 Principal.  “Our partnership with Read to a Child enables many of our students to improve literacy skills, develop a love of reading and become life-long learners. Also, as part of the mentoring relationships that develop, I see our student’s self-confidence improving, a critical component of future success.”

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to under-served children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence.Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,700 volunteer mentors from over 125 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,300 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Photos from today’s event (by Robert Castagna) can be downloaded here:

http://www.eventphotographyboston.com/Private-Galleries/Read-to-a-Child-with-Marty-Walsh/

Media contact: 
Lizzy Dugan
781-489-5910
lizzy.dugan@readtoachild.org

###

New Britain, CT – April 24, 2017 – Thursday morning, April 27 at 11:30 AM, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart will read to second and third grade students in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program at the Lincoln School in New Britain.  Mayor Stewart will be joined by Read to a Child CT Regional Board Members Greg Boyd and Holly Lerose and Lincoln School Principal Elaine Cabral to highlight the importance of utilizing volunteer reading mentors from corporate and community partners to boost literacy skills and self-esteem in urban public school students.

WHEN: 

Thursday, April 27, 2017
Media Arrival: 11:00 AM – 11:15  AM
Program: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE:

Lincoln Elementary School, located at 145 Steele St, New Britain, CT 06052

WHO:  

Erin Stewart, Mayor of New Britain

Holly Lerose, Vice Chair, Read to a Child Regional Board

Greg Boyd, Read to a Child Regional Board Member

Elaine Cabral, Principal, Lincoln School       

WHY:

80% of low income 4^th graders in the United States cannot read proficiently and more than 25% will not graduate from high school. The event highlights the importance of reading and mentoring to address this major societal issue.

CONTACT:  

Gina Broadbent, 860-989-4768, Gina.Broadbent@readtoachild.org

Read to a Child and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Event during National Reading Month Highlights the Importance of Improving Children’s Literacy Skills

Los Angeles, CA – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child® and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation today announced that alumnus Los Angeles Dodgers Alumnus Matt Luke will visit the Juan Cabrillo Elementary School in Hawthorne, CA on Wednesday March 22 and read aloud to elementary school students in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program. The event (which begins at 12:00 noon) highlights Read to a Child’s ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in improving children’s literacy skills among those most at-risk in the community, while underscoring how partnerships with area corporations create better opportunities for underserved children.

Children from both the Juan Cabrillo and Peter Burnett Elementary Schools will participate in the event. These two schools are among the six public elementary schools in greater Los Angeles where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Across the US, Read to a Child manages 1,700 adult volunteers from 125 corporations who visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch. This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with literacy skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“We are pleased to support Read to a Child and its innovative model of utilizing adult volunteers from area corporations to act as reading mentors in public schools,” said Nichol Whiteman Executive Director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Initiatives and programs designed to improve the lives and literacy skills of those most underserved in the community are a significant focus of our foundation. We are honored to bring Dodger players and alumni into classrooms as positive role models in order to highlight the importance of literacy and help build a lifelong love of reading at an early age.”

“We are thankful to the Dodger organization for raising awareness of the literacy crisis and to the Dodgers Foundation for their financial support, both of which are critical in enabling Read to a Child to grow to serve the hundreds of struggling children that remain on our waiting lists across greater Los Angeles,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux. “Because 80% of 4th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient readers and one-fourth won’t graduate from high school, support is imperative in order to help under-resourced public elementary schools address this crisis.”

At Wednesday’s event, students from Juan Cabrillo and Peter Burnett Elementary Schools will present Matt Luke with a personal copy of Dr. Seuss’s ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go!’, signed by the children in the Lunchtime Reading Program. Mr. Luke will then read this book aloud to the students. Because the book has a cheerful, open-ended conclusion, Mr. Luke will likely elicit strong opinions from all of the students about what places they would like to visit and what things they might discover as they go through life.

Volunteer reading mentors from Read to a Child corporate partners Mattel, Wpromote and AT&T will also be on hand for the event, along with their reading “mentees.” These volunteers typically dedicate one lunch hour per week during the school year to mentor a child struggling with reading and this beneficial relationship often lasts for four years.

“I deeply value our partnership with Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said Margaret Lynch, Principal of Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. “In addition to the mentoring relationships that develop, I see our students learning to love books.”

Added Laura Sullivan, Principal of Peter Burnett Elementary School, “I believe strongly that developing a love of reading gives children an important tool to ensure that they are lifelong learners. Our partnership with Read to a Child is an important part of helping our students become lifelong readers and lifelong learners.”

About Read to a Child:
Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school, career and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,700 volunteers from more than 125 socially-minded organizations who read aloud to more than 1,400 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami.

About the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation:
LADF is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its primary focus is to support cornerstone programs in Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy and Health + Wellness benefitting children and families in need throughout the greater Los Angeles region. By leveraging strategic partnerships, the mission is to harness the power of the Dodger brand and the passion our fans have for Los Angeles into a vehicle for positive change in underserved communities. Visit the Dodgers Foundation online at www.dodgers.com/ladf, follow them on Twitter @DodgersFdn,Instagram @dodgersfoundation and like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesDodgersFoundation

Media contact:
Alex Fey
Los Angeles Director
Read to a Child
c: 714-398-9246
w: 310-208-5310
alex.fey@readtoachild.org

Hartford, CT – Read to a Child, a national non-profit literacy and mentoring organization today announced the launch of Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Program at a new elementary school, the Dr. Michael D. Fox School in Hartford, CT.

In celebration of the new school launch, as well as National Reading Month, Read to a Child and the M.D. Fox School will host a read aloud event beginning Tuesday morning, March 21 at 11:15 AM.  (This event was originally scheduled for March 14 and postponed due to snow.) Guest readers include Erika Arias (Fox61 anchor), Janet Lawler (Children’s Book Author), Kimberly Oliver (Director, City of Hartford Department of Families, Children, Youth & Recreation and Member, Hartford Board of Education) and Richard Wasserman (Partner, Day Pitney LLP and Regional Board Chair of Read to a Child).

The special guests will read to kindergarten and first grade students in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program in order to highlight the crucial importance of improving literacy skills among elementary school students and ensuring that all students read proficiently by 4^th grade (the time when learning becomes based upon the ability to read).

WHEN: 

Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Media Arrival: 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Program: 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE:

Dr. Michael D. Fox School, 470 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114

WHO:  

Erika Arias, Emmy-award nominated anchor for FOX CT

Janet Lawler, Children’s Book Author

Kimberly Oliver, Director, City of Harford Department of Families, Children, Youth & Recreation; Member Hartford Board of Education

Richard Wasserman, Read to a Child Regional Board Chair and Partner, Day Pitney LLP

Kenneasha Sloley, Principal, Dr. Michael D. Fox School

Gina Broadbent, Regional Director, Read to a Child

WHY:

80% of low income 4^th graders in the United States cannot read proficiently   and 2/3^rds of those will spend time on welfare or in jail. The event highlights the importance of reading and mentoring to address this major societal issue.

CONTACT:  

Gina Broadbent, 860-989-4768, Gina.Broadbent@readtoachild.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 $100,000 Will Support 6,000 One-on-One Reading Sessions with Caring Adults Nationwide

WELLESLEY, MA, March 1, 2017 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child® today announced its fourth annual online fundraising campaign  ‘Help Kids in Need Love to Read’ which is designed to spark a love of reading in low-income kids. By raising $100,000 in March, which is National Reading Month, Read to a Child can support 6,000 individual reading sessions for at-risk children in urban centers across the country.

Astoundingly, 80% of 4th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient in reading and 26% will not graduate from high school. To combat this literacy crisis, Read to a Child enlists volunteer reading mentors to visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch. This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with the skills and confidence to succeed in school and life.

“Alarmingly, 2/3rds of low-income children who are not proficient readers by 4th grade will end up on welfare or in jail,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux. “By participating in this campaign you can help society as a whole as we give at-risk children a better chance to succeed in school and in life. You can also have a whole lot of fun as you inspire others to support children’s literacy and cast daily votes for your favorite children’s books as we work our way down to the Final Four and Champion!”

The fundraising campaign features a fun ‘March Madness’ themed ‘Book Bracket Challenge’ where selected children’s book titles will face off on Read to a Child’s Facebook page every workday in March. By popular vote, the initial lineup of 32 children’s books will be narrowed to a ‘sweet sixteen’, ‘elite eight,’ ‘final four’ and ultimately a ‘champion.’  In 2016, P.D. Eastman’s ‘Are You My Mother?’ was voted in as champion in the inaugural Book Bracket Challenge.

All proceeds from the campaign will go to Read to a Child to fund its Lunchtime Reading Program, which pairs more than 1,200 at-risk elementary school children with volunteer reading mentors. Once a week, these caring adults spend their lunch hour reading aloud to their student mentees. This simple, yet profound, act has been shown to foster a love of reading, improve literacy skills and boost confidence in struggling children.

“I was matched with my reading buddy, Johandra, when she was in the 2nd grade and we are now in our third year of reading together,” said Nancy Puleo, Partner at Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP.  “Not only does Johandra greet me with excitement and a hug, but also I see all of the other students’ enthusiasm when they greet their volunteer readers.  The positive energy is electric and contagious. This experience is the highlight of my week and I return to work feeling invigorated and inspired.”

Continues Puleo, “You make an immediate impact when you donate to Read to a Child.  The book carts are a bit fuller, the number of students benefiting from the program grows, and the program’s offerings are enhanced.  I encourage individuals and companies alike to consider donating to Read to a Child.”

Sponsors:

ArcLight is delighted to once again be a Visionary Sponsor of Read to a Child’s annual online fundraiser,” says Mark Tarini, Partner at ArcLight Capital Partners LLC. “ArcLight is passionate about serving the community and by supporting Read to a Child, both financially and with our volunteer readers, we are able to give back to those most in need. We also see how much personal satisfaction our employees receive from time spent with their mentees. Unlike many other corporate volunteer programs, the Read to a Child volunteer opportunity allows us to have a deep relationship with students and to make a direct impact on the student’s future success. It is very powerful for volunteer and student alike.”

“The Read to a Child online campaign is a strategic approach to building literacy, creative thinking and lifelong learning among children in our community. Pitney Bowes is honored to be a part of this innovative program and pleased to once again be a Visionary Sponsor of the ‘Help Kids in Need Love to Read’ campaign,” said Kathleen Ryan Mufson, President of the Pitney Bowes Foundation.

Other campaign sponsors include Integrity Services, Steve Lyons Gallery, and Commonwealth Financial, as well as Posterscope USA and Atrium PR, who are generously donating marketing and media services for the campaign.

For more information about the ‘Help Kids in Need Love to Read’ campaign and how to participate or donate, please visit https://readtoachild.networkforgood.com/projects/12107-read-to-a-child-help-kids-in-need-love-to-read. The campaign runs from March 1 – 31, 2017.

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to at-risk children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,500 volunteer mentors from more than 100 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to 1,200 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Join the conversation by liking us on Facebook and following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

# # # #

Media Contact:                                         

Lizzy Dugan
Read to a Child
781-489-5910
lizzy.duggan@readtoachild.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Read to a Child to host the Motor City Read-A-Thon, with events beginning March 1

National Reading Month events in March will connect caring adults from all sectors of the community to at-risk students to support literacy growth and future success

Detroit, February 24, 2017 — Read to a Child, Inc. a national non-profit literacy and mentoring organization, today announced it will host the First Annual Motor City Read-A-Thon, a month-long initiative held during National Reading Month in March to increase awareness about the importance of reading aloud to children in supporting their academic success.

Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence.

The Read-A-Thon will kick off on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 with a series of hour-long read aloud celebrations at Southwest Detroit Community School, Warren Bow Elementary School and Herrington Elementary School.

Students will enjoy a video message from US Senator Debbie Stabenow as well as in-class readings from State Rep. Stephanie Chang, Ike McKinnon and a host of other dedicated community leaders and neighbors who are committed to the success of our youth.

Featured readers for these events include volunteers from a wide array of community minded corporations and organizations such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Level One Bank, Quicken Loans, WXYZ Channel 7, General Motors, Comerica Bank, Teach for America, the City of Detroit, Oakland Community College, the City of Pontiac, Fontinalis Partners LLC, WDIV Channel 4, Detroit Housing Commission, Oakland University, Chief Financial Credit Union, the Packard Plant Project and many more.

“Reading to children is so important because learning to read opens up an enormous world of opportunity that lasts a lifetime,” said David Walker, EVP/CFO, Level One Bank. Continues Walker, “Being able to read is the key to personal development and full engagement in society.”

Reading celebrations will continue throughout the month of March at Southwest Detroit Community School, Warren Bow Elementary School and Herrington Elementary School as well as at Detroit Leadership Academy and Detroit Innovation Academy where students will participate in the regularly scheduled Lunchtime Reading Program as well as read aloud sessions by featured readers.

“Before a child can read on their own, they learn the power of imagination and storytelling by having others read to them,” said Chris Uhl, Vice President of Community Investments for Quicken Loans. “Reading to children sparks interest and develops curiosity so they are motivated to pursue their education.”

National Reading Month activities will also include book donations to every student in grades K-5 at each of the participating schools to create or add to their home library. Book donations were made possible through the kind donations of the Detroit Chapter of the Kiwanis Club, Level One Bank, Children’s Book Author Lisa Wheeler, Quicken Loans and hundreds of caring adults from throughout Southeastern Michigan.

“Reading to children teaches them how to open doors to new worlds with their mind, stimulates their creativity and helps them take the first steps toward breaking down barriers between cultures and places unknown,” said Jessica McCall, Office of Mayor Michael E. Duggan, City of Detroit.

Ky Lindberg, Detroit Director for Read to a Child adds, “I had the pleasure of obtaining my entire education in Detroit Public School and recognize the importance community support has on a child’s life. If we meet our goal of raising $25,000 during National Reading Month, we can provide direct literacy support to hundreds of children in Metro Detroit and provide added support to the amazing teachers who have dedicated themselves to promoting our children’s academic success.”

Read to a Child’s Detroit Lunchtime Reading Program has been integral in positioning students for future success for over five years. This school year, volunteer reading mentors have supported more than 500 hours of read aloud sessions for students in Detroit and Pontiac Public Schools and its participating students have observed measurable literacy growth and expanded enthusiasm regarding reading since entering the program. Due to the organizations’ successes, Read to a Child Detroit has been invited to partner with two additional schools in 2017 and has been approached by numerous other schools interested in having their students benefit from the Lunchtime Reading Program.

In order to meet the rising needs of students in our community, Read to a Child relies on community contributions of both time and financial resources. For the entire month of March, Read to a Child-Detroit is committed to raising $25,000 to support 1500 one-on-one Lunchtime Reading Program sessions for underserved children. Additionally, the organization seeks to add 100 volunteer mentors support the Lunchtime Reading Program at Schools in Detroit and Pontiac. To volunteer or donate, visit www.readtoachild.org or contact Ky Lindberg, Detroit Director at ky.lindberg@readtoachild.org or 313-486-9114.

What is Read to a Child?
Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to at-risk children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,500 volunteer mentors from more than 100 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to nearly 1,200 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Media Contact:
Kyesha Lindberg
Detroit Director
313.486.9114
ky.lindberg@readtoachild.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boston Education Chief Rahn Dorsey and Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux Participate to Highlight Partnerships Designed to Help Close the Literacy Gap

Photo link: http://www.gettyimages.com/search/events/682195405
Photo credit: Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Boston, MA, November 15, 2016 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child®, The Imagination Agency and Boston Public Schools announced that Martellus Bennett read his children’s book “Hey A.J. It’s Saturday!” to children today in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program at the Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School. New England Patriots star tight end, children’s book author and founder of The Imagination Agency, Martellus was joined by Boston Chief of Education Rahn Dorsey, Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux and Boston Public Schools leaders to highlight the importance of mentoring partnerships that boost literacy skills and self-confidence in urban public school students.

The Maurice J. Tobin School is one of 17 public elementary schools in greater Boston where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Read to a Child enlists and manages a force of 1,500 corporate volunteers from more than 100 organizations that visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch. This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with the skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“It’s super awesome to have a chance to partner with Read to a Child and highlight the importance of reading,” said Martellus Bennett. “Not a day goes by that I don’t pick up a book and read a page of it for myself. (I am currently reading “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman.) Or let a night go by that my daughter, Jett, goes to bed without a bedtime story. (Tonight’s book is “Hey, That’s My Monster” by Amanda Noll.)” Continues Bennett, “Every kid in the world deserves a fantastic bedtime story read to them. Every kid deserves an adventure. Reading to child guarantees that they get to go on that great adventure.”

Two days from now, on November 17th, Martellus will also speak at Read to a Child’s annual gala, a “Jungle Book” – themed ‘Night in the Jungle’ at the Omni Parker House in Boston. Martellus will stress the importance of children’s literacy and will highlight his labor of love in writing his first children’s book inspired by his daughter. “I hope to see you in the jungle,” said Martellus. “I’ll be the guy next to Mowgli. Make sure you say What’s Up?!”

To get a chance to meet Martellus and hear his inspirational story directly, tickets (which must be purchased in advance) can be found here.

“I wrote the, ‘Hey A.J’ children’s book series to always be there for my daughter, even after I’m gone,” Bennett said. “As a father, I never want her to not have advice or food for thought from her father. Stories live on forever. This is a big part of my daddy legacy. The character AJ is based on my daughter, Jett, and the adventures my family has. I want my daughter and other kids of colors to be able to grow up with a character of color that focuses on imagination and adventures, not just their skin color or hair.”

“I applaud Martellus Bennett for highlighting the importance of being able to read well and Read to a Child for its innovative model of utilizing volunteers from area corporations to act as reading mentors in public schools,” said Boston Education Chief Rahn Dorsey. “Increasing literacy skills in our elementary school children is critical to improve their chances for success in school and life, and the mentoring experience is also so beneficial in boosting key socio-emotional skills like self-confidence among at-risk kids.”

“We are grateful to Read to a Child and CEO Paul Lamoureux and Martellus Bennett of the Patriots for investing in our children and furthering our work as a district,” said Superintendent Tommy Chang. “I look forward to seeing our students’ reading and writing skills continue to progress as they connect with and gain inspiration from non-fiction text and literature.”

“Alarmingly 80% of 4th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient readers and 2/3rds of these struggling readers will end up on welfare or in jail,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux. “It is in the face of this societal crisis, that partnerships for improving literacy skills are crucial and I am deeply thankful to Martellus Bennett for helping raise awareness. Martellus is also such a great role model for kids and clearly shows how a love of reading and a creative imagination can spark wondrous accomplishments far beyond the playing field.”

“I deeply value our partnership with Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said Efrain Toledano, Maurice J. Tobin K-8 Principal. “In addition to the mentoring relationships that develop, I see our students learning to love books. I believe strongly that developing a love of reading gives children an important tool to ensure that they are lifelong learners. Our partnership with Read to a Child is an important part of helping our students become lifelong readers and lifelong learners.”

About Read to a Child:
Read to a Child (www.readtoachild.org) is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for their future. Research proves that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school and life. Read to a Child currently partners with more than 100 corporations and institutions nationwide that provide 1,500 volunteers who read aloud to 1,200 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as urban centers in Connecticut.

About Martellus Bennett:
Martellus grew up in Houston, Texas where from a young age he was a standout two-sport athlete destined for a future in athletics. He was a top draft prospect for both football and basketball and went on to play both sports at the NCAA Division 1 level for Texas A&M. Deciding to focus on football, Martellus was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He now plays tight end for the New England Patriots. In addition, as an author, artist and entrepreneur, Martellus Bennett is known not only for his presence as a playmaker on the football field, but also for his larger than life personality. With an impressive list of exceptional talents, both on and off the field, and enough charisma to charm his critics, Bennett has won the hearts of fans across the country. This bright young star has paved the way to a long, lasting and powerful career as a player, entertainer and businessman.

About the Book:
As a voracious reader, Martellus read every children’s book to his daughter. But he became acutely aware that none of the main characters looked like her, so he decided to write his own. Inspired by Bennett’s daughter, Jett, “Hey A.J. It’s Saturday!” is a children’s book in which A.J., the book’s protagonist, takes readers on a wild journey throughout her day as her imagination comes to life. She discovers that there is a wild and strange world just downstairs in her kitchen where a breakfast feast is being served by creatures and beasts. “Hey A.J. It’s Saturday!” is the first in the “Hey A.J.” book series and each book purchased is accompanied by a “Hey A.J.” app.

About The Imagination Agency:
Founded by Martellus Bennett, multimedia firm The Imagination Agency is a wondrous group of monsters and lost imaginary friends tasked with creating, drawing, writing and imagining fantastical adventures for kids all over the world. Be it by books, art, apps, games, cartoons, films or toys, The Imagination Agency entertains and delights by bringing stories to life from Martellus’ own imagination, and encourages kids to explore their own creative outlets. With a universe of characters to share with the world, all of whom have been like lifelong personal friends, Martellus and The Imagination Agency are excited to take you on adventures that no one else can.

About Boston Public Schools
The Boston Public Schools (BPS), the birthplace of public education in the United States, serves nearly 57,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 125 schools. BPS is committed to transforming the lives of all children through exemplary teaching in a world-class system of innovative, welcoming schools. We partner with the community, families, and students to develop in every learner the knowledge, skill, and character to excel in college, career, and life.

Media contacts:

For Read to a Child
Weber Shandwick, Colleen McCarthy, 617-520-7059, CMcCarthy@webershandwick.com

For Martellus Bennett
FYI Brand Communications, Christina LoDuca, 916-410-2182, christina@fyibrandcomm.com

For Boston Public Schools
Gabrielle Farrell, 617-368-0364,
gfarrell@bostonpublicschools.org

BOSTON – November 14, 2016 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child® will host its annual gala at Boston’s Omni Parker House on Thursday November 17th beginning at 6:30pm.  New England Patriots tight end and children’s book author Martellus Bennett and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang will be the featured speakers at the event.  Joined by Read to a Child supporters, education leaders, area philanthropists and business executives, Martellus and Tommy will highlight the importance of reading and mentoring to fuel a child’s imagination, as well as corporate and community partnerships in boosting literacy skills among at-risk public school students.

WHEN: 
Thursday, November 17, 2016
6:30PM Event Begins, Guests/Media Arrive, Silent Auction Opens
8:00PM Speaking Program Begins
8:25PM Philanthropist of the Year Award (presented by Martellus Bennett)
8:30PM Live Auction and Fund the Need
9:00PM Scheduled Media Interviews with Martellus Begin

WHERE:
Omni Parker House
60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108

WHO:  
Martellus Bennett, Patriots tight end, Children’s book author, Entrepreneur
Dr. Tommy Chang, Boston Public Schools Superintendent
Dan Revers, CEO ArcLight Capital
Dave Ferrick, CEO Agero
Paul Lamoureux, CEO Read to a Child

WHAT:  
Support Read to a Child’s innovative approach to improve children’s literacy
Martellus Bennett on literacy, imagination, writing and entrepreneurship
Dr. Chang on mentoring and partnerships in support of public schools
Read to a Child “Philanthropist of the Year” award presentation

Live and silent auction

Food, drink, fun and networking in support of Read to a Child

WHY:
80% of low income 4^th graders in the United States cannot read proficiently and 2/3^rds of these struggling youth will spend time on welfare or in jail! The Gala supports Read to a Child’s efforts to address this alarming societal issue.

HOW:
Tickets available at https://readtoachildgala2016.eventbrite.com/

MEDIA:
Colleen McCarthy, Weber-Shandwick, 617-661-7900   cmarthy@webershandwick.com

###

Contact: Gina Broadbent
Phone: (860) 989-4768
Email: Gina.Broadbent@readtoachild.org

HARTFORD, CT (OCTOBER 11, 2016) – Read to a Child® today announced that its second annual Connecticut fundraiser will be held at the Mark Twain House in Hartford on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, from 6:00-8:00 PM.  The event, featuring Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, will support Read to a Child’s Connecticut Lunchtime Reading Program, which partners an adult reading volunteer one-on-one with an elementary school student for a rewarding read aloud experience during the child’s lunch break. Read to a Child serves hundreds of at-risk children in Connecticut and more than 1,200 across the country.

 “This event is a tremendous opportunity to bring together all who are committed to the mission of Read to a Child, and to expanding the Lunchtime Reading Program in Connecticut,” said Sean Datcher, Chair of Read to a Child’s Connecticut Board of Advisors and Vice President & CIO of eBusiness Technology at Travelers Insurance.

Event attendees will enjoy appetizers, beverages, a silent auction and tours of the historic site.  Tickets, which are $50 per person, can be purchased at Eventbrite.  All funds raised at the event will directly support the Lunchtime Reading Program in Connecticut.  Key sponsors of the event include ACSTAR Insurance, Eagle Investment Systems, The Hartford in Windsor Employee Group, Holly and Brian Lerose, MB Aerospace, Morgan Stanley, Pamela and Patrick Pedonti, Paul Sapiro, and UBS.

• WHO: Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin; Read to a Child CEO Paul Lamoureux; Read to a Child CT Board Chair Sean Datcher; Betances Early Reading Lab Principal Corinne Barney; as well as supporters from ACSTAR Insurance, Eagle Investment Systems, The Hartford in Windsor Employee Group, MB Aerospace, Morgan Stanley, Travelers Insurance and UBS.
• WHAT: Read to a Child in CT hosts its second annual fundraiser
• WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM
• WHERE: Mark Twain House, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT
• WHY: To improve at-risk children’s literacy skills in CT and prepare them for success in school and in life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Read to a Child and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Partner to Highlight the Importance of Improving Children’s Literacy Skills in Closing the Achievement Gap

 Los Angeles, CA, August 25, 2016 – National non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child® and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation today announced that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill will visit the Leo Politi Elementary School in Los Angeles Friday, August 26 and read aloud to children in Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program. The event, which begins at 11:30am, highlights Read to a Child’s partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in improving children’s literacy skills among those most at-risk in the community while underscoring how partnerships with area corporations create better opportunities for underserved children.  Photos from tomorrow’s event will be accessible via the link at the end of this release.

Leo Politi is one of seven public elementary schools in greater Los Angeles where Read to a Child operates its Lunchtime Reading Program. Across the US, Read to a Child manages a force of 1,500 adult volunteers from more than 100 corporations who visit urban elementary schools once a week and read aloud one-on-one to children during lunch.  This time spent with a caring adult ignites a love of reading in struggling children, while providing students with literacy skills and self-confidence to succeed in school and in life.

“I applaud Read to a Child and its innovative model of utilizing adult volunteers from area corporations to act as reading mentors in public schools,” said Nichol Whiteman Executive Director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.  “The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation supports many initiatives to improve the lives of those most underserved in the community and programs to improve literacy skills are a significant focus of ours.  By bringing Dodgers players into the classroom as reading mentors and by utilizing athletes as positive role models, we are highlighting the importance of improving literacy skills to underserved children.”

“Alarmingly, 80% of 4th graders from low-income families in the United States are not proficient readers and 2/3rds of these students will end up on welfare or in jail,” said Read to a Child CEO, Paul Lamoureux.  “The Dodgers Foundation is well aware of this literacy crisis and we are deeply appreciative of its commitment to improving literacy skills and to closing the achievement gap.  We are thankful to the Dodgers organization for raising awareness of the literacy crisis and to the Dodgers Foundation for their financial support, both of which are critical in enabling Read to a Child to grow to serve the hundreds of struggling children that remain on our waiting lists across the region.”

At Friday’s event, students from the Politi Elementary will present Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill with a personal copy of Dr. Seuss’s newly released book ‘What Pet Should I Get?,’ signed by the children in the Lunchtime Reading Program. Mr. Hill will then read this book aloud to the students. Because the book ends without Dr. Seuss revealing what specific pet is taken home from the pet store, Mr. Hill will likely elicit strong opinions from all of the students about what pet they think should have been chosen by the book’s characters.

Volunteer reading mentors from Read to a Child corporate partners Capital Group, Deloitte, MEC Global and Winston & Strawn will also be on hand for Friday’s event to cheer on their favorite new Dodger pitcher (Rich Hill joined the Dodgers on August 1st) and their reading “mentees.”  These volunteers typically dedicate one lunch hour per week during the school year to mentor a child struggling with reading.  This beneficial relationship often lasts for four years.

“I deeply value our partnership with Read to a Child because I see the results of the dedicated mentors who come each week to read with our students,” said Luis Ochoa, Leo Politi Elementary School Principal.  “In addition to the mentoring relationships that develop, I see our students learning to love books.  I believe strongly that developing a love of reading gives children an important tool to ensure that they are lifelong learners.  Our partnership with Read to a Child is an important part of helping our students become lifelong readers and lifelong learners.”   

About Read to a Child:

 Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school, career and life.  When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes 1,500 volunteers from more than 100 socially-minded organizations who read aloud to nearly 1,200 at-risk elementary school students in greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami.  

About the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

LADF is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its primary focus is to support cornerstone programs in Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy and Health + Wellness benefitting children and families in need throughout the greater Los Angeles region. By leveraging strategic partnerships, the mission is to harness the power of the Dodger brand and the passion our fans have for Los Angeles into a vehicle for positive change in under-served communities. Visit the Dodgers Foundation online at www.dodgers.com/ladf, follow them on Twitter @DodgersFdn, Instagram @dodgersfoundation and like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesDodgersFoundation/. For media information, visit www.dodgerspressbox.com.

Images from Friday’s event can be downloaded here

Media contact:
Alex Fey
Los Angeles Director
Read to a Child
c: 714-398-9246
w: 310-208-5310
alex.fey@readtoachild.org

For Immediate Release                                                                                        
w/photo link

Tufts Health Plan employee recognized during National Volunteer Week for 9 years of Outstanding Service

Cambridge, MA, April 15, 2016 –During National Volunteer Week, Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons recognized a long-time Morse Elementary School volunteer for her outstanding commitment to students as a lunch-time reading mentor through the national non-profit literacy and mentoring organization Read to a Child.

Pamela Giannatsis, senior communications manager with Tufts Health Plan, a corporate sponsor of the program, has read to four consecutive students during nine years of volunteering, first in Waltham, and currently in Cambridge at the Morse Elementary School.  Students are recommended for individual reading support by their teachers as early as first grade and the mentor-mentee relationship can continue through fourth grade.

“I believe deeply that being able to read, and read well, should be considered a human right,” Pam explained during the 17^th annual Cambridge Volunteer Awards Celebration Tuesday night, at the Cambridge Senior Center. “I am so grateful to Read to a Child for providing a model that allows employees like me to demonstrate our corporate citizenship values during work hours.  I continue to recruit colleagues to join me so that more children can be served.  Based on my experience, I know that we also receive so much from working one-on-one with these young children.”

“I am extremely pleased that Pam has been recognized for her outstanding service. She is a wonderful role model for the children she mentors and a caring and civic minded member of the community,” said Paul Lamoureux, CEO of Read to a Child. “On behalf of Read to a Child and the many thousands of students who have participated in the lunchtime reading program, I sincerely thank Pam for her service and for her dedication to improving children’s literacy among those most at-risk and in need.”

The Cambridge Senior Volunteer Clearinghouse also honored eight others for their years of service to various Cambridge nonprofit organizations, as part of National Volunteer Week activities.

Pam’s current mentee is her fourth student in Read to a Child’s lunchtime reading program. “Since I became a reading mentor nine years ago, my time with Luther, Chris, Malachi and Adrian has exceeded my wildest expectations.  My first mentee, now an academically-successful high school junior, is planning to study biomedical engineering in college and points to his experience in the lunchtime reading program as inspirational.  It is clearly evident that the lunchtime reading model truly makes a difference. Imagine how many more children can succeed, one lunchtime and one child at a time.”

About Read to a Child:

Read to a Child, https://readtoachild.org, is a national nonprofit literacy and mentoring organization that inspires caring adults to read aloud to at-risk children to create better opportunities for their future. Research proves that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading and, thus, likelihood for success in school and life. Read to a Child currently partners with more than 100 corporations and institutions nationwide that provide 1,500 volunteers who read aloud to more than 1,100 at-risk students in greater Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as urban centers in Connecticut.

Images from Tuesday night’s event can be downloaded here

Media contact:
Alexandra Nichipor
Read to a Child
781-489-5910
alex.nichipor@readtoachild.org