Salinas, CA – Read to Me Project will present “Salinas Valley Grows Readers” an experiential evening and auctioning of classroom sponsorships, Thursday, October 5, 2017, 5-7 pm at Taylor Fresh Foods, 150 Main St., Salinas, CA. Tickets $35 per person. Food, drink, music, and an entertaining program are promised! To RSVP go to www.readtomeproject.org or email mary@readtomeproject.org. 831.275.1300 x 702.
WHY ATTEND AND / OR DONATE?
Demand for the Read to Me Project is outpacing program capacity. Every school year more and more teachers, principals and district superintendents are recognizing the value of having the prevention-based, low-cost, siblings-reading-to-siblings literacy program implemented in their classrooms. Less than two-thirds of direct program costs are paid by the schools, outside donations to support remaining costs are being sought through donations from local business sponsorships and individuals.
If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation toward the cost of implementing Read to Me Project in low-literacy schools. To donate go to http://www.readtomeproject.org
Background
Literacy is the foundation for equity, opportunity and thriving communities. However, an alarming seven out of ten children in Monterey County communities are starting school lagging as much as two years behind in cognitive, vocabulary and language skills. Imagine five year olds starting school with the knowledge level of three year olds — and most never catch up — all due to the lack of early learning and literacy experiences before starting kindergarten.
The Read to Me Project provides young children (6 months to 5 years) from predominately low income, high-density neighborhoods with a foundation for language, learning and literacy by being read to by trained 4th, 5th and 6th grade siblings as part of their daily homework. All student participants attend low-literacy schools.
Barbara Greenway, Read to Me Project founder and Executive Director further explains, “Read to Me Project’s mission is to help underserved children achieve kindergarten readiness and a lifetime of literacy by empowering school age brothers and sisters to read to their young siblings at home. With more than 5,000 annual births reported by Salinas Valley hospitals alone; 3,500 children are entering kindergarten behind in readiness skills every year. We are looking for financial support from the community of caring individuals interested in providing early learning experiences to young children. With their support Read to Me Project is able to bring books and literacy into homes and help children achieve their full potential.”
To attend the “Salinas Valley Grows Readers” Fundraiser, please RSVP by going to Read to Me Project or mailto:mary@readtomeproject.org, 831.275.1300 x 702.
Source: The Read to Me Project
