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.