BookSpring Read-A-Thon Video: Chief Acevedo and Sheriff Hamilton talk literacy and crime!

The talented team from S-Collective and TyRex have begun production of the BookSpring Read-A-Thon PSA!

Earlier this week, Austin’s Police Chief Art Acevedo talked to BookSpring about the link between literacy and crime. Chief Acevedo challenged the Austin community to set up in the fight for literacy- “education or incarceration”! Chief Acevedo is a strong voice for the fight for literacy!

Travis Country Sheriff  Greg Hamilton talks about visiting the Travis Country jails and the alarming percentages of inmates who are illiterate! County deputies make it a priority to visit schools to read and role model the importance of reading! Thanks Sheriff for the good work you do to fight literacy!

BookSpring is grateful to have such strong role leaders in the fight to bring books and services to the Austin community!

Thanks S-Collective http://www.s-collective.com/ and TyRex http://www.tyrexmfg.com/!

Book Ownership is the Key!

Leah Davies, RIF program director, packs books for RIF Week.

Did you know access to books is the key to solving the literacy crisis?

A recent study shows that while in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio ois 1 age appropriate book for every 300 children!

BookSpring will deliver brand new books 3 times this year to students in 28 Austin schools!

Students wait all year in anticipation for “RIF Week” when BookSpring and school librarians share a story and a motivation activity.  After story time, students are allowed to select a book  to keep! Students write their names in the books and the sneak off to corners of the library to begin reading!

How great is that?

Who is the Top Reader on Your Campus?

During the Read-A-Thon, BookSpring recognizes the student on each campus who READS the MOST pages during the two week event.

School assemblies are the perfect occasion to recognize a student with a personalized trophy!

Imagine the joy of presenting this trophy to one of your special students!!!

Make Literacy Part of Your Business Plan: Sponsor the Read-A-Thon

More evidence supports crisis in childhood literacy!

Lack of access to storybooks before the age of 5 can have long term
consequences on children that severely impact a child’s ability to succeed and
result in student dropout rates

61% of families from low-income communities lack age-appropriate books, a
major factor of the early childhood literacy crisis

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –  The following event advisory
is being issued by Jumpstart:

WHAT:  Reading to a child during ages 3-5 builds the key pre-literacy skills
that lead to academic success. Research has shown that children who enter the
school system without these skills are unable to catch up and are three to
four times more likely to drop out in later years. 

Walmart, Pearson, the leading education publisher, and Jumpstart, a leading
non-profit focused on early literacy intervention, will release a new report
that details wide ranging academic research about the early childhood literacy
crisis.  At the news conference, new findings from a poll on Americans’
understanding of early literacy will be released.

Interested in Sponsoring the 2010 Read-A-Thon? It’s Not Too Late!

Sponsor the 2010 Read-A-Thon!

“A Neighborhood of Readers”

Help make our community a Neighborhood of Readers!

2010 Read-A-Thon Sponsorship Packet

The 2010 Read-A-Thon is BookSpring ‘s biggest fundraiser!

Sponsorship supports literacy in Austin while demonstrating a committment to community service. Over 30,000 students and households in Austin, Eanes and Round Rock schools  will see

your LOGO and Business Name!

30,000 Read-A-Thon flyers, pledge envelopes,

t-shirts and incentives!

Advertisements throughout the Greater Austin area!

Support BookSpring and place books into the hands of Austin children!

Grab your pencils and crayons! Get Your BookSpring’s Artwork Contest Forms HERE!

Click to download  2010 Children’s Art Contest Entry Form and Rules

HEB joins Read-A-Thon Sponsors!

Thanks HEB for your continued support of BookSpring’s Read-A-Thon!

A great story from a volunteer!

Today I visited with a friend from the National Charity League who voluteered with her daughter at BookSpring this summer. She told me about a particular day at BookSpring when they were sorting through used books (used books are distributed at local medical clinics).  They sorted for hours as they discovered special books that  triggered memories of when and where they shared a particular book. Quickly, a book became a house in St. Louis, a book still on the daughter’s shelf, an inside family joke…….

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.(1994) 
~ Emilie Buchwald ~