Everybody Wins! Iowa Newsletter - March 2013

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Read to Lead Gala
Everybody Wins! Iowa's annual Read to Lead Gala will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 7-10 p.m. at the Salisbury House in Des Moines. The gala is a chance for you to enjoy beverages and appetizers at the beautiful Salisbury House venue, to meet local authors, have access to the Salisbury House Library, enjoy music from local musicians, participate in a silent auction and mingle with other supporters of Everybody Wins! Iowa. 
 
The authors confirmed to attend the gala include: Rekha Basu, Lori Ferris, Jann Freed, Tana Goertz, Jill Hathaway, Jade Miller, Elvin McDonald, Wini Moranville, Dr. Paul Mullen, Kay Fenton Smith, and Carol Roh Spaulding. Tickets for the event cost $25 and you must be registered by Monday, April 8th. To register, please go to our website www.everybodywinsiowa.org and click on Read to Lead Event Registration to complete the online form. You can also register for the event by calling 515.277.7590. 

School Spotlight:
Oviatt Elementary and 
Pella Christian Grade School
Everybody Wins! Iowa is helping increase children's success in school and life in two new programs at Oviatt Elementary School in Norwalk and at Pella Christian Grade School in Pella. Oviatt Elementary School is serving 15 children in Kindergarten, first and second grades over the lunch hour each Tuesday. "We will likely be expanding to Lakewood Elementary school next fall." says Amanda Fletcher, Executive Director. "Lakewood houses students grades 3-5 and we want to be sure that the mentors that are reading with second grade students this year are able to move up with their students to Lakewood in the fall. The Norwalk school district and greater community have embraced this program by providing support, promotion, some funding and currently, 15 volunteers who give their time each week to make a difference in the life of a young person." 
 
The Pella Christian Grade School program reaches 11 children in Kindergarten and first grade. Many of the volunteers for the program are Central College staff and students, as well as Pella community members. "It is a real blessing," says Lois Van Houwelingen the School Coordinator. Lois is so happy to see how special the program is to the children as it has been such a positive experience for the children and volunteers. 
Heroes' Week and Iowa Energy Game
During the week of March 11th, Everybody Wins! Iowa was privileged to have visits from local heroes at our various programs. Veterans, active Iowa National Guard sergeants, police officers, firefighters, and even the Iowa Energy all spoke to students about their careers, service, and how reading has impacted their lives. The children were able to ask the heroes questions, and heroes read a couple of books to them as well! Thanks to the generosity of the Iowa Energy, students, mentors,  Everybody Wins! Iowa staff and mentors were provided complimentary tickets for them and a guest to enjoy an Iowa Energy game at the Iowa Events Center! It was a fun-filled night and a great way to end an incredible week of recognizing the heroes in our very own community!
 
 
Members of the Polk County Sheriff's Department read at various locations during Heroes' Week. 
Birdies For Charity
Everybody Wins! Iowa will be participating in the Birdies for Charity in 2013 at the Principal Charity Classic. Make your pledge for Everybody Wins! Iowa on their website now!
 
What is Birdies for Charity?
The Birdies for Charity program is a fundraising vehicle through which participating organizations solicit pledges from supporters based on the number of birdies made by PGA Champions Tour players during the three-day Principal Charity Classic. Participating organizations will keep 100% of the pledges collected on their behalf.

How It Works: Participants can make a one-time flat donation (minimum $25), or make a pledge for each birdie made ($.05 per birdie minimum) by Champions Tour players during the 2013 Principal Charity Classic. Once a total of $1,500 is raised by an organization, each gift to the organization will be matched by 25%. 
 

March Prizes: Anyone who pledges to Everybody Wins! Iowa before March 31, will be entered to win a new Walking Mower donated by John Deere Financial. 

 

Principal Charity Classic

May 28 - June 2, 2013

Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa

Principal Charity Classic Logo 

Click here to make your gift to Everybody Wins! Iowa.
Mark Your Calendars! 
Scholastic Story Lab
Scholastic Book Fair! It is time to mark your calendars for Everybody Wins! Iowa's spring Scholastic Book Fair. The spring bookfair will be March 27 & 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. The book fair will be held at the University of Phoenix campus located at 317 6th Avenue, Downtown Des Moines. This is a perfect time to pick up some new books for kids to read over the summer!  More details to  follow.  
   
Feel your creative side coming on? Come to The Social Canvas on May 23rd! The Social Canvas is an upbeat art studio where you will take a fun class guided by an artist. Everybody Wins! Iowa will get $10 for every painter who comes to paint on May 23rd from 6-9. The painting will be of Gerber Daisies. Bring your friends, co-workers, and family members for this fun filled evening! Sign up early as there are only 60 spots! For more information about The Social Canvas and to register to paint that night, please visit their website at http://www.thesocialcanvas.com. If you have any other questions, please call the Everybody Wins! Iowa office at 515-277-7590.  
Grant received by 
Everybody Wins! Iowa
Everybody Wins! Iowa received a $2,500 grant from
Prairie Meadows. We are grateful for their continued support to our program. This grant will allow us to continue growing and strengthening our 19 programs in Central Iowa.

 

  Prairie Meadows Grant 2013

  

 

 A $500 grant from MidAmerican Energy will be used to support our Power Lunch programming at Monroe Elementary. Everybody Wins! Iowa appreciates both their continued financial and volunteer support.

MidAmerican Energy   

The Mentoring Minute
Have you ever wondered if your mentoring is actually beneficial for the students? There are many studies that prove it is! Studies show students who have a positive mentor have fewer absences from school, a better attitude toward school, reductions in substance abuse and other high-risk behavior, and are more inclined to help others. Many professionals had a mentor growing up who was not a parent or in a care giving position. Many youth need a caring adult who takes time to focus their attention on them and takes interest in their lives. The success of your student may have been contributed by the time you give reading to your child each week. 

-Information retrieved from The Mentor's Field Guide
Our Mission

Increasing children's success in school through reading and mentoring experiences with caring volunteers.
Message from the Executive Director:
 
"Please plan to join us the next few months for our upcoming events and fundraisers - Birdies for Charity Campaign, Scholastic Book Fair, Read to Lead, and Paint with a Purpose. Thanks in advance for your support!" 
 
Gratefully,
 
-Amanda Fletcher, 
Executive Director,  Everybody Wins! Iowa
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