Nemo in New Canton
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See Grant's report...
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Summer Reach Out and Read Community Service Program |
Julie Best, Children's Ministry Director of the Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Mechanicsville, has incorporated ROR into her summer school program. The children will:
- Run a book drive -Fundraise with a Read-a-thon - Paint canvases to decorate the wall of a local Reach Out and Read Program clinic.
We can't wait to see the results! |
Summer of a Million Books
| On June 21st, ROR National headquarters kicked off a new initiative in conjuction with United We Serve's "Let's Read. Let's Move" initiative sponsored by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. During summer 2010, Reach Out and Read aims to put an additional one million books into the hands of those children most at risk in our communities. To learn more please visit the ROR website at Reachoutandread.org
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~2010 RIF~ Shipping of 2010 Reading is Fundamental (RIF) books began the last week of June. This is the fourth year RORVA has been fortunate to receive a RIF grant. Because of this grant, we have been able to provide our sites with nearly 76,000 books this year providing our most needy sites with 55% of their annual book need. Thank you RIF! |
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RORVA Literacy Fact for June
Encourage older children to read to their younger
brothers and sisters. Older children enjoy showing off their skills to
an admiring audience.
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Thank you for Helping Change Lives: One Book at a Time
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RORVA's Blog
Just $40 provides the full five-year ROR program for one child.
To learn more about our programs or to volunteer, please contact us at
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Dear RORVA Colleagues and Friends,
Friday, June 18, 2010 concluded my first week as an intern with Reach Out
and Read Virginia. What is RORVA? What do I do? Why do I do it?
A month ago, I had the answer to none of these. Now, I am sitting in the
tiny Reach Out and Read office on East Parham Rd. sending emails, making phone
calls, identifying need and trying to establish support...
...The past few days, in the office and out in the clinics, I have been able
to see how this system works where the rubber meets the road. I have met
doctors, nurses and patients who all take stock in what the Reach Out and Read
Program means and who have put themselves into the program heart and soul. In
one clinic in New Canton, I sat with a girl and her two younger brothers in a
beautiful glass encased reading area while they all read quietly to each other.
The fourth wall in this room had been lovingly painted by one of the nurses at
the clinic to depict all the characters from the movie "Finding Nemo." The
bright colors and large windows along with comfortable seating made this the
perfect place for a young mind to be nourished and grow. Of course this is an
idealistic setting and not all clinics can be expected to be able to
accommodate at this level, but those children sitting quietly with their books
are proof to me that given the opportunity, a child can and will learn.
My role here is simple; To be one more person willing and able to put in the
time necessary to advance the program in Virginia. I believe in the Reach Out
and Read Program. I believe that for the children who receive the benefit of
experiencing it, their lives are set on a brighter more promising path.
~Grant Mathews
Southern Education Leadership Initiative - Reach Out and Read Summer Intern
For Grant's full reports please see the RORVA blog (link below)
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Funding News | |
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Thank you to Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation and The Richard and Caroline T.Gwathmey Memorial Trust for their generous funding of various RORVA programs and The Robins Foundation for it's continued commitment to the families of Richmond's Northside.
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Thank you to all our fantastic volunteers
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Jacqueline Mules is our Volunteer of the Month. Jacqueline tirelessly ensures the smooth running the Reach Out and Reach program through the Bon Secours Care-a-Van travelling clinic and Saint Augustines Church in Richmond's Southside.
As part of our adopt-a-clinic program,  Peggy Goodwin along with members and friends of the Regency Women's Club,
reorganized, furnished and decorated the lovely new children's reading area at the Infant Jesus Clinic in Hopewell. A huge "Thank You" from Sarah Kirchner and all the doctors and nurses.
Another great thank you to Carla Mathews from the Beta Pi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Educators Society who took the Chester site of the Infant Jesus Pediatric Clinic under her wing, reorganizing, redecorating and furnishing the waiting area.We had a very positive response to our appeal for book transportation - thank you to Hannah Russell. Hannah, a volunteer who took 250 books, drove 5 hours and dropped off books in three program sites in and near Wythe and Marion. She said of her involvement in ROR, "My mom saw the article in the Richmond Times. As a student in Southwestern Virginia, I've noticed the importance of storytelling to the people in that area, and I'm glad that I could introduce, to these kids, some of the stories that entertained my sisters and I for hours as children."....and more book drives: - Kristin Palumbo and Saint Bridgets School in Richmond
- Christine Gray and the pupils of Terra Centre Elementary School in Fairfax County
- Jill Fitzpatrick and the pupils of Colonial Trail Elementary School in Henrico County
- Wyndham Tidal Waves swim team
- John B. Dey Elementary School in Virginia Beach collected books for CHKD
All these books are being sorted, packed and delivered to sites at a very rapid pace - Keep them coming ! |
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~~~Clinic Corner
Summer 2010 Legislator Visits
A personal appeal from a doctor or clinic is often more effective.
As you know, Reach Out and Read's federal funding provides Coalition support and book funding. Each year we host legislators during summer recess at ROR Sites around the country. Once a legislator visits a ROR program, they are much more likely to advocate for our critical federal funding.
Invite your local state and federal legislators to visit your clinic and read to your young patients. This is a simple but effective press-friendly event to bring your clinic and Reach Out and Read to the forefront.
We at RORVA can help with sample letters of invitation and event coordination. Contact Sue Rockwell srockwell@rorva.org
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