Reading to Kids News

We are delighted that one of our long-time volunteers and children's book author, Andrea J. Loney (shown above reading with us), and her illustrator Rudy Gutierrez have received a 2020 Caldecott Honor award for their book Double Bass Blues!

Last year we read her book Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee! to 3rd graders, and she joined us at her usual school, Politi Elementary, to read it with us. Congratulations, Andrea and Rudy, and we look for to reading more of your books aloud!

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READING TO KIDS HELPERS & AMBASSADORS
NEEDED NEXT WEEK AND FEB. 8TH!

We are currently full for our "People & Places Around the World" reading clubs on February 8th, but please keep checking back for new openings in case others have canceled.

We still need GLCs, Training Coordinators, Check-In Helpers, Food or Bagel Runners, and Site Coordinators at several of our schools!

If you have volunteered with us at least a couple of times and can help in any of these roles, please email us at info@readingtokids.org.

We can even add you in for one of those roles if your school is full, especially if you can be a Site Coordinator!

(If you have signed up for the February reading clubs but can't make it after all, please go here to cancel to open your spot to someone else.)

READING TO KIDS AMBASSADORS
NEEDED NEXT WEEK!

Next week for an hour or two between 7:30am and 2:30pm we need your help conducting quick classroom walk-throughs or handing out flyers to encourage kids to come to our February 8th reading clubs.

This can be a lot of fun and we'll provide everything you need. Please reply to info@readingtokids.org or call the office at (310) 479-7455 if you can be an Ambassador!

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5K RUNNERS WANTED
MARCH 7TH!

Do you know any runners? Are you a runner? Please forward this email to them and ask them to join Team Reading to Kids for the Big 5K (that's just 3.1 miles) near Dodger Stadium on Saturday, March 7th!

You can share this Facebook group with any of your runner friends to encourage them to join our team!

If you or a runner you know is interested in becoming one of our fundraising runners or creating a fundraising team, please email Chris Martin at marathon@readingtokids.org!

Team Reading to Kids 2019 Skechers Performance LA Marathon

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CAN'T RUN 26 MILES OR 5K?
THEN DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR
MARATHON RUNNERS
OR HAND OUT WATER DURING THE RACE!

Team Reading to Kids LA Marathon runners

Please support Team Reading to Kids as they run the Los Angeles Marathon on March 8th!

They have until March 8th to reach their $20,000 fundraising goal! If you can donate a buck a mile to your favorite runner, you'll help fuel them towards the finish line!

With every mile they train and every dollar they raise, these valiant souls help you inspire kids with a love of reading.

HAND OUT WATER DURING THE RACE!

Help represent Reading to Kids during the marathon by handing out water to the runners!

Our group will be at Water Station Mile 5 at Glendale Blvd., between Bellevue and Kent St. in Echo Park, on Sunday, March 8th from 5am - 11am.

Click this link to sign up. Our group is Reading to Kids and our shift location should be listed in green. Click the box to the green J05 Water Station Mile 5 shift, complete the form, and sign up to volunteer!

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MUSICIANS NEEDED MARCH 14TH

Our March 14th reading clubs feature "Music & Entertainment", and we are looking for musicians to perform at each of our eight partner schools. In the past we've had everything from Korean drum troupes to electric violin players to marching bands!

Liz Fohl performing at Charles White Elementary

If you or someone you know is interested in sharing the gift of music with our students and volunteers, email us at info@readingtokids.org.

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THANK YOU WATER BUFFALO CLUB!

We are thrilled to announce that the Water Buffalo Club has selected Reading to Kids for their first-ever Water Buffalo Club Community Partner Grant, awarding us $30,000 over the next three years!

Over the next three years their grant will be used to purchase many of the hardcover, read-aloud books you will read aloud and we will then donate to our partner schools' libraries after the reading clubs.

Thank you for your remarkable support, Water Buffalo Club! We are so excited to be working again with your charitable club of Westside professionals who are truly "big kids" dedicated to "helping little kids" in Los Angeles!

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Thanks, and we hope to see you next Saturday at the February 8th reading clubs.