Bring Me A Book, East Bay Community Foundation,
West Contra Costa School District Partner to Help 4,200 Kids
Richmond, CA – October 5, 2010 -- All 4,200 kindergarten students in Richmond public schools will have new in-class libraries and new literacy training as a result of a program unveiled today by the West Contra School District, the East Bay Community Foundation, and Bring Me A Book.
A grant from the East Bay Community Foundation funds work by the non-profit reading specialist Bring Me A Book that will place a bookcase library with 30 new, hardcover, bilingual books and annual book replenishments for the children and families of 70 kindergarten classrooms in all 19 Richmond schools. The initiative will also provide two literacy workshops at each elementary school for parents, caregivers and teachers to learn the importance of reading aloud and ways to create a daily read-aloud routine with their children.
Students and families will benefit from having daily access to high-quality literacy resources in the classroom and at home. Some 4,200 children and 5,230 parents and caregivers are impacted by the program, which is placing more than 8,000 books in Richmond schools.
“These new literacy resources in all our kindergarten classes help us ensure very young children develop the fundamentals of learning that will enhance their chances of being successful in the education system,” said District Superintendent Bruce Harter. “It is especially important that this program not only provides books, but also literacy workshops for parents, caregivers, and teachers so that literacy activities in the classroom can be supported through literacy activities at home.”
Bring Me A Book, headquartered in Mountain View, provides easy access to the best children’s books and inspires reading aloud. Bring Me A Book places libraries of books in state-funded preschools, elementary schools and community centers and provides a “First Teachers” literacy training workshop for parents, teachers, and caregivers.
“Study after study proves that children who have early exposure to reading and books, and who are read aloud to on a daily basis, do better in school,” said Bring Me A Book Executive Director Terri Clark. “The key is access to books; and Bring Me A Book is serving over 450,000 children and parents at 1,700 sites throughout California to provide easy access to the best children’s books and to inspire parents, caregivers and teachers to read aloud to children for future success in school and life.”
The three-year program is funded by the East Bay Community Foundation, one of the largest sources of support for worthy causes and needs in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The grant of more than $272,000 for the initiative came to the East Bay Community Foundation from a local family foundation that wishes to remain anonymous.
“This grant and the partnership it forms with a generous family foundation, the East Bay Community Foundation, the school district, and Bring Me A Book aligns with our focus on ensuring very young children get the education they need in order to have better economic opportunity when they become adults,” said Nicole Taylor, President & Chief Executive Officer of the East Bay Community Foundation. “It also aligns with our priority of assisting specific communities in the East Bay, one of which is Richmond.”
