FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact: Beth Newbauer

November 7, 2001                                                       (310) 712- 1155

 

MEDIA ALERT

 

READING TO KIDS ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN

AND VOLUNTEERS TO SCHOOL ON SATURDAY

(College Day Is Declared For Volunteers)

 

WHAT:         Hundreds of children will voluntarily attend school on Saturday, November 10 at 10:00 am to participate in Reading to Kids, a volunteer organization formed in 1999.  The purpose of the program is to provide elementary school children in the Los Angeles area with a brighter future through a monthly reader club, and to increase children’s reading skills. This Saturday all volunteers are going to wear college t-shirts and sweatshirts to the reading clubs. Many of the volunteers are from local colleges such as UCLA and USC. The teachers at the schools have said that the repetition of seeing and hearing the names of colleges and universities can help encourage the children to go to college themselves. The children, most of whom are English language learners, are read stories and engaged in crafts that will support future success.  The National Commission on Reading states that the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.  Reading to Kids is a nonprofit organization that operates completely through the assistance of volunteers and donations.

 

WHEN:            November 10, 10:00 am

(The second Saturday of every month)

 

WHERE:            Gratts Elementary School                   Magnolia Elementary School

                        309 S. Lucas Avenue                          1626 S. Orchard Avenue

                        Los Angeles, CA 90017                       Los Angeles, CA 90006

 

WHO:            * Maricela Sanchez, vice principal of Magnolia Elementary 

   School

 

*Luis Valentino, principal of Gratts Elementary School

 

                        *Volunteer trainers

                       

                        *Hundreds of elementary school children, the majority whom

                          are Hispanic English language learners

 

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