South Sound
In an effort to increase the number of children entering school prepared to learn, read and succeed, the South Sound Reading Foundation exists to ensure that every child is read with 20 minutes a day starting at birth. Reading just 20 minutes a day with young children is the key to healthy brain development, family bonding, and success in school.
News and Events
Way to Go, JLO!
Five hundred books and eight hundred book bags will go home with Raising A Reader children this spring because of the Junior League of Olympia. Junior League purchased high quality bilingual books and materials and then twenty seven Junior League members assembled over 1,000 book bags, including age-appropriate books, literacy materials, and library card applications in under an hour.“That’s Junior League” says Reading Foundation director, Jennifer Williamson Forster “they’re organized, efficient problem solvers with big hearts.”
Each child graduating from the Raising A Reader program will receive the free books and bags to encourage reading 20 minutes a day, family bonding and a life-long love of reading. This corresponds with the Junior Leagues’ focus on fostering healthy families by:
promoting family bonding and “cuddle time”
creating shared experiences that strengthen families
inspiring children who will become parents who read to and nurture their children.
The South Sound Reading Foundation (SSRF) exists to ensure that all South Sound children can learn, read and succeed. They do this by educating and reminding families about the importance of reading with their children for at least 20 minutes a day from birth. Reading just 20 minutes a day promotes healthy brain development, family bonding and school readiness. SSRF also strives to get books into every home and into the hands of every child so they have the tools they need to read and succeed. For more information visit www.readingfoundation.org/southsound.
The Raising A Reader mission is to foster healthy brain development, parent-child bonding and early literacy skills critical for school success by engaging parents in a routine of daily “book cuddling” with their children from birth to age five. For more information contact Fran at 360.754.0810, x111.
The Junior League of Olympia is a group of roughly 200 dedicated women in the Olympia area committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information visit http://www.jlolympia.org.
Timberland Regional Library also partnered in the project by providing library application and literacy materials.
End Hunger and Promote Literacy
Join city, county and state agencies and take the Well Fed, Well Read challenge. Well Fed, Well Read is a food and children's book drive hosted by the Thurston County Food Bank and the South Sound Reading Foundation. This drive, which runs April 1st through April 15th, fights hunger and promotes literacy in our community by challenges public agency employees to collect food and children’s books.
Last year 30 agencies collected over 28,000 pounds of food and over 12,000 new and used children’s books. These supplies filled the Food Bank’s spring food inventory and provide much needed books for the Reading Foundation’s spring and summer literacy outreach programs. This year the drive hopes to attract 40 agencies, collect more than 50,000 lbs of food and over 13,000 books.
One of the collaborations supported by the drive is the ForKids food bank program and the LOFAY (Literacy Outreach for At-Risk Youth) reading foundation program. These programs collaborate to serve hungry, homeless and low-income children and youth in Thurston County by sending food home on weekends, and books too, on longer weekends. “The foodbags you send weekly are amazing, but this week is the best so far. The book you sent in mine I really enjoyed and I will read it until I have it memorized. Thanks so much. Your friend, Angel.” (4th Grader).
“If families are nourished, if kids have food, their chances of succeeding in school increase” says Jennifer Forster, director of the South Sound Reading Foundation, “and school success is what we, at the reading foundation, are all about.”
“If we can get families reading together, if we can ensure kids succeed in school, maybe they won’t be standing in our food bank lines when they have kids”, says Thurston County Food Bank Director, Robert Coit, “that’s why we are working together to build awareness about hunger and literacy.”
“The need in our community is great” says Governor Christine Gregoire, in her letter of support for the drive, “but I am convinced that, together, we can effect change and enrich the hearts and minds of those most in need.”
If you would like more information on Well Fed, Well Read 2012, or you would like to participate, contact the South Sound Reading Foundation, at (360) 412-4499 or email: read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us.
SSRF on Discover Thurston!
and join us at Books by the Bay.
Congratulations Imagination Celebration was a Success!
Change the Face of Literacy, Renew your Reading Foundation Membership
Monthly e-letter with South Sound Reading Foundation (SSRF) and literacy updates A guaranteed seat at the table at the SSRF Annual meeting and luncheon An invitation to the Spring Soiree at the Director’s house Vote for SSRF Read Aloud Book of Year Award Vote for SSRF Literacy Partner of the Year Award Vote for SSRF Literacy Champion Award Special recognition at For the Love of Reading, our website and annual report Members at $250 and above will also receive 2 free tickets to Books by the Bay SSRF 2011 Membership Form Name: ____________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________ E-Mail: ______________________________________________ Membership Level: ð $25-$49.00— Book Lover ð $250-499--Reading Royaltyð $50-$99 – Reading Ready Advocate ð $500- Sponsor Member ð $100-$249–Literacy Champions ð I would like more information on volunteering, committees and, or serving on the SSRF board. |
