LAUDERHILL – On October 21st, all eyes will be on Broward, as over 700 volunteers will set out to read the same book at approximately 500 voluntary pre-Kindergarten centers, 225 schools and 1,500 classrooms to 40,000 Broward children between 8 a.m. and noon. The Children’s Services Council of Broward County (CSC) is partnering with the Broward County School Board, local businesses, non-profit organizations and other community stakeholders to make an impact on the literacy development of Broward’s youngest residents.
Among those who have committed to reading on that day will be Mrs. Jeanette Rubio, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s wife, who will read at Mary M. Bethune Elementary School, 2400 Meade St. Hollywood at 11 am; Ron McGill, of the Miami Metro Zoo who will be accompanied by some of his critters at New Mirawood Academy, on 5820 Hallandale Beach Blvd, in West Park at 10:30 a.m.; the Fort Lauderdale Strikers will have players reading at the Westfield Mall, at 8000 W. Broward Blvd in Plantation at noon; while cheerleaders and volunteers from the Miami Dolphins will be present at Davie Elementary earlier in the day. They will join thousands of volunteers across the County in reading “Bunny Cakes,” a comical story of sibling bonding and birthday shenanigans.
“The CSC is committed to ensuring all children read at grade level by the 3rd grade,” said Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President/CEO of the CSC. “With this broad effort, we can help remind and educate the community about the importance of early literacy and its link to ensuring success in school and beyond,” she said. “That is why the Council committed $130,000 to purchase over 400,000 copies of this book.”
Community support has been great, with the Jim Moran Foundation contributing $30,000 toward the initiative. Other partners include A.D. Henderson Foundation, United Way of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward, Early Learning Coalition of Broward, Family Central, HandsOn Broward, Broward Education Foundation, Partners in Education, NSU, Young Lawyers Section and more.
To sign up to be a volunteer reader, visit www.handsonbroward.org.
