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News from Reach Out and Read Washington State
In This Issue
Legislative Update- Advocacy Needs for Reach Out and Read
'Tis the Season to Donate
Read Senator Frockt's Blog Post Featuring Reach Out and Read
Anacortes Decorates Tree with Reach Out and Read in Mind
Follow Us on Facebook
About Us
Support Reach Out and Read in Washington

Your Amazon shopping you benefit Reach Out and Read programs!  

 
December 2011

Greetings!

 

December is already flying by, and it sure feels strange to be in Olympia this time of year!  The main news continues to be the grim economy, and the need for further cuts in the state budget.  I spent a lot of time in Olympia last week.  Today I am back in the office focused on supporting our programs as they give new books to children and support to their parents each and every day in communities across the state. We must never forget our purpose--to serve families now and improve children's chances in life! 

 

We would like to call out a special thank you to our major private funders, whose support blends with our state funding. It is only through a combination of state, federal and private funding that we have been able to build a network of Reach Out and Read programs that are now serving more than 81,000 children and families across the state. So as the holiday season approaches, we want to give thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Bezos Family Foundation, Thrive by Five Washington, and The Boeing Company, all of whom have supported us over multiple years.  Thank you!

 

At the same time, Reach Out and Read is touching individual families and communities in such important ways and there is great power in your involvement as well.  We would like to offer you several easy ways that you can support Reach Out and Read, many of which cost you nothing financially!  Please consider any of the following: a 2-minute email to legislators asking them to continue funding Reach Out and Read (please!); the purchase of a gift card though our partnership with Cauzoom.com for something you were going to buy anyway (like coffee or groceries); remembering to use our link to Amazon.com for that gift you're sending to a friend; or a direct, tax-deductible donation to support Reach Out and Read Washington as part of your year-end giving.  All of these are incredibly valuable to our work supporting parents as their child's first teachers.   Please help if you can.

 

As we wish for peace and joy for all during the holiday season, we look forward to working together to create a brighter future for children and families in the coming year.   

 

With appreciation,

Jill Sells MD and The Reach Out and Read Washington State Team

 

....because Reading Is Doctor-Recommended 

Legislative Update-Special Session Begins

Washington State Capital 

Advocacy Needed to Continue Reach Out and Read's State Funding. I was there on the first day of Special Session- and things are crazy in Olympia! I appreciated the chance to testify 3 times last week-in House Ways and Means (at 1:14:00), Senate Ways and Means (at 50:08), and in the Senate Early-Learning-K12 Committee (57:32). The Governor has proposed complete elimination of Reach Out and Read's state funding. It's very important that legislators hear now about Reach Out and Read and other vital programs for children and families. They have the very difficult job of further reducing the state budget, at a time when so much has already been cut.

 

That said, we must continue to invest in proven programs that will impact our future. Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, highly scalable program that addresses the vital need to improve early literacy skills for young children.   Reach Out and Read's total cost is less than $15/child/year, with state investment of less than $2/child/year. Every state dollar is leveraging $6 in private and federal funds. Please help doctors continue to serve over 81,000 young children and their families by contacting your legislators and the Governor now. Ask them to continue Reach Out and Read's funding in the Department of Early Learning's budget.

'Tis the Season to Make Sure Young Children Have Books at Home

 

Dr.Woodruff and family

Your Purchases and Donations Support Reach Out and Read. This December, we have several easy ways you can contribute to programs around Washington State. By shopping at the places you already do using our gift cards and links, you can help children across the state be prepared for school.

 

Reach Out and Read is excited to partner with Cauzoom.com to offer a great way for you to do your holiday shopping AND help put books in the homes of children across our state. Check out the link below and purchase gift cards to Whole Foods Market, Starbucks, or Barnes & Noble. A part of the proceeds of each will go straight to Reach Out and Read's programs. There is no cap on how much money we raise, so spread the word and Help Doctors Put Books in the Homes of Young Children in Washington State.

 

We are also continuing our partnership with Amazon.com. When you use this link and complete an order on Amazon, Reach Out and Read Washington will receive a percentage of the money you spend. This link is always available on the left side of our home page at www.reachoutandreadwa.org. Please make a shortcut and remember to use it during the holidays and beyond!

 

Finally, a direct tax-deductible donation to support Reach Out and Read Washington State is always so helpful and appreciated!  Donate now

Senator Frockt Notes Importance of Reach Out and Read and Early Learning in Blog Post

University of Washington I-LABS Details Brain Development Prior to Kindergarten.
MEG brain imaging device. Photo credit Bezos Family Foundation
MEG brain imaging device. Photo credit Bezos Family Foundation

A group of Washington State Legislators learned more about the connection between brain science and the importance of early childhood development programs when they toured I-LABS last month. Catch Senator Frockt's blog about the visit. He notes, "Washington believes in the importance of early learning. This includes small but profound programs such as Reach Out and Read. This effort promotes reading and school readiness in doctors' exams by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. Unfortunately, profound efforts such as Reach Out and Read are in jeopardy. Although the scientific data is clear, the budget crisis threatens to eliminate state funding. I will continue to advocate for our earliest learners."

 

We thank Senator Frockt for his support and leadership, and I-LABS for helping show the connection between research and our evidence-based program that is putting research into action as we serve children and families.

Anacortes Decorates Tree with Literacy Theme
  
Celebration of Trees Display Inspired by Partnership with Reach Out and Read. Island Hospital in Anacortes just held its annual Celebration of Trees. Each year, business and community members create a wonderland of themed trees at the Port Warehouse in Anacortes. These trees are decorated and then auctioned off, raising money for community causes. 

 

This year Reach Out and Read will also benefit. One of the trees was decorated with the alphabet and dozens of children's books. The books decorating and surrounding the tree will be donated to Reach Out and Read programs in Anacortes.   This is another great example of how the community of Anacortes has rallied around Reach Out and Read as part of it's early learning efforts.

Reach Out and Read Washington State on Facebook

Find us on Facebook

 

Reach Out and Read Washington State is on Facebook.  Please LIKE us.  If you could also suggest our Facebook page to your friends, that would go a long way in helping us spread our message about early literacy - thanks! 

About Reach Out and Read Washington State
 

Reach Out and Read helps prepare children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.  Our evidence-based, proven program leverages the volunteer time of doctors to make literacy a standard part of well-child visits. Reach Out and Read supports parents as their child's first teacher. Through 127 programs in 28 counties, over 800 medical providers serve more than 81,000 children and families.

Founded in 2007, Reach Out and Read Washington State supports programs across the state.  We are part of the national, evidence-based Reach Out and Read Program, founded in 1989.
  


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email - [email protected]

Telephone - 206-524-3579
Fax - 206-524-4768
  

Address - 155 NE 100th Street - Suite 301, Seattle WA 98125