SIDNEY – On Monday, Oct. 19, the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA will host a volunteer reading event supporting Read Across the Globe, an initiative that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in our community.
Read Across the Globe is a one-day reading event that aims to raise awareness concerning the worldwide literacy crisis. Working with volunteers, educators and partners in every time zone, the Y and other participating organizations will read to children around the globe to shine a light on literacy. Read Across the Globe is an initiative created by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.
During the event, the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA will read throughout the day to more than 165 children enrolled in programs at the Y Child Development Center.
Some of the featured guest readers include Chief Brad Jones, Sidney Fire Department; Chief Will Balling, Sidney Police Department; Ed Thomas, CEO, Sidney-Shelby County YMCA; Scott Barr, Director, Shelby County United Way; Joe Laber, Radio Host, WMVR; Eileen Hix, Children’s Pastor, Sidney First United Methodist Church; Mardie Milligan, Vice Mayor, 1st Ward, City of Sidney; and LT Dallas Davis, Sidney Fire Department.
The Y, as a leader in youth development and social responsibility, understands that literacy is the key to a bright future. Here in Shelby County, the Y supports literacy by making it foundational to all instruction in its early learning programs, through a strong partnership with the library and other nonprofits, and by offering free community-based preschool literacy events several times annually.
“The Sidney-Shelby County Y Child Development Center is proud to support and participate in Read Across the Globe,” said Elizabeth Grace, Y Child Development Center director. “As a volunteer-driven organization committed to strengthening our community, we are invested in developing youth from cradle to career and learning to read proficiently is a key component of success in school and in life.”
Children’s exposure to language—talking, singing, or reading—from infancy to age 3 is a strong predictor of their ability to read fluently by the third-grade. Children who are not reading proficiently by third-grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, said Grace.
For more information on attending or volunteering for Read Across the Globe, contact Grace at (937) 498-2273 or [email protected].
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net
Read Across the Globe is a historic reading event that will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, to raise awareness of the worldwide literacy crisis. It is being organized by Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Volunteer Houston, Deloitte as a national sponsor and Jumpstart (Read for the Record) as the national nonprofit partner. For more information visit www.pointoflight.org/readacrosstheglobe
