First New England Region Coordinator Recognition Award to Linda LaJoie of Holyoke Pediatric Associates 

The first New England Region Reach Out and Read Coordinator Recognition award has been given to Massachusetts Coordinator Linda LaJoie of Holyoke Pediatric Associates.This newly established award honors Program Coordinators - nominated by  their Sites - who offer outstanding support, organizational skills, and  enthusiasm to maintaining, and often strengthening, the Reach Out and Read Program. Such Coordinators are behind-the-scenes catalysts dedicated to ensuring that the children coming through their doors for medical care are introduced to the joys of books, and that  their parents become better engaged in the process of reading aloud.

Excerpt from the nomination for Linda:

 "Linda is the pillar of our Reach Out and Read Program.  Her energy and enthusiasm is boundless. She is always investigating new funding sources and applying for grants.  Sundays will often find her at our office, sorting, organizing, and stamping books, as well as taking care of so many other details of our Reach Out and Read Program.   Linda coordinates two office Sites to make sure that both always have an ample supply of books; organizes our meetings and annual fundraising letter campaign; puts together our newsletters; and is an enthusiastic organizer/participant in the annual Reach Out and Read raffle at the annual holiday luncheon, where Linda's Famous Chocolate Cake is one of the most desired prizes."  

In Linda's honor, $100 will be given to Holyoke Health Center's Scholastic Account-and perhaps one of the Reach Out and Read Massachusetts staff will infiltrate the holiday luncheon to bid on her cake!"

Congratulations to Alysia Killam!

Alysia Killam, longtime Coordinator at the Brockton Hospital Reach Out and Read Program, received an AA in June from the Brockton Hospital School of Nursing.  Alysia worked with Dr. Hammo to keep the Reach Out and Read Program in perfect order for over four years, all while going to school and becoming a mother. She is now working on the telemetry floor at Brockton Hospital. Thank you for your years of service, Alysia, we expect to hear many great things from you in the future!

Springfield Reach Out and Read Tree Benefits Boys and Girls Club

 

Dr. Nancy Miller and Jan Jones, RN, gathered books, bookstore gift certificates, and a bit of magic  to create a lovely "Reading Tree" to be auctioned off at the  Festival of the Trees fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield.  Volunteer elves Lauren Shimel, Jordan Barnes, and David Miller helped hand out new books to 400 children and wish them happy reading for the holidays. Dr. Miller, the Reach Out and Read Medical Champion at High Street Health Center, and Jan Jones, retired Reach Out and Read Coordinator extraordinaire, thank Baystate Children's Hospital, the Davis Foundation, and Massachusetts Reach Out and Read for their support.  

State Senate President Therese Murray visited the Briarpatch Pediatrics Sandwich Office on October 29^th and found her audience eagerly anticipating Halloween. After a tour of the newly renovated clinic, Senator Murray, a former teacher, used her read-aloud experience to engage the excited crowd of preschoolers. Leslie Smith, the practice manager, led a tour of the newly renovated clinic, and Senator Murray  then spoke with Dr. Norenberg, a champion of Reach Out and Read on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Audience and adults alike were grateful for the warm welcome to Briarpatch. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A Warm Thanks To...

• Mary King of the Massachusetts Library System.   As library services in Western Massachusetts underwent massive changes, curtailing bookmobile services, Mary donated hundreds of picture books to  Reach Out and Read Sites throughout the region. Here they will enhance literacy-rich waiting rooms and go home with sick children and siblings. 
• Kim Wiltzen and Bert Simpson at Troubadour Music for a donation of Raffi's Everything Grows book and CD. Troubadour Music is a "triple bottom line" company producing Raffi's music, books, and other resources to advance the Child Honouring vision. (http://www.raffinews.com/contact/mission)
• Charlesbridge, publisher of the new American Babies  (http://www.charlesbridge.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=5344)  for a donation of 7000 new books in connection with Reach Out and Read's Fall Event Read and Romp.
• Bill Henry, for his many donations of books to Reach Out and Read at Children's Hospital

     And to our Stalwart Supporters 

  Borders in Marlboro

       Barnes and Noble in Saugus, Leominster, Burlington and Swampscott

for making Reach Out and Read the recipient of their Holiday Book Drives.

With 100% of pediatric practices in the city now participating in Reach Out and Read, Holyoke became the third "Bookend City" in Massachusetts and the tenth in the country.    Mayor Elaine Pluta and State Representative Michael Kane were part of the October 21st festivities at Holyoke Community Health Center.  After reading to a group of children from Square One Child Care Center, both Mayor Pluta and Rep. Kane congratulated all of the city's pediatricians for embracing Reach Out and Read and committing to help Holyoke's youngest children arrive 

                                                                      at school prepared to excel.