Read to a Child to Host Read Aloud Event at Hartford’s Dr. Michael D. Fox in Celebration of School Launch and National Reading Month

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