In This Issue

Nicholas Kristof's, Pre-K,...the Great Debate

HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE RESULTS

Thank you to both Barnes & Noble and Cover 2 Cover for their tremendous efforts gathering new books for our programs. The generosity of their patrons has provided Connecticut with over 8,000 new books including classics like Goodnight Moon and Five Little Monkeys.

Here are the totals by location:

Barnes & Noble

Stamford Town Center: 1,200 Books
Buckland Hills Mall: 4,757 Books
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley: 1,510 Books
Yale University Book Store: 20 Books

Cover 2 Cover

Bradley International Airport: 1,200 Books

We greatly appreciate the support of our wonderful partners! Thank you!

Nicholas Kristof's

Pre-K, the Great Debate

In case you missed it--check out Nicholas Kristof's NY Times Op-Ed from January 29, 2014, which begins...."Against all odds, prekindergarten is gaining ground."

President Obama called again, in his State of the Union address, for Congress to support high-quality preschool for all, noting that 30 states are already moving ahead on this front (including New York).

"Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early education," Obama said. The House speaker, John Boehner, who sat stonily through most of Obama's speech, applauded that line. Congress also unexpectedly increased financing this year for early education...."

To read the rest of his compelling article relating to Early Childhood Education click HERE.

On the Radio....

WICC 600 AM Radio January 22nd, Reach Out and Read's Christine Garber was interviewed regarding the "Books Build Better Brains" briefing at the Capitol on January 28th.. Click HERE to listen to the interview.

Please help make a difference in a child's life. Donate here.

Thank you!

"For the Record" Interview

With CHC's Angela Moemeka, MD & Reach Out and Read's

Christine Garber

In January, "For the Record" WHPX Reporter Shawn Murphy visited Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), New London, where he interviewed Dr. Angela Moemeka, CHC Medical Champion, and Christine Garber, Connecticut Executive Director of Reach Out and Read. They discussed the importance of having Reach Out and Read at community health centers like CHC and the importance of low-income children developing the pre-literacy skills that enable them to enter kindergarten at grade level and ready to learn to read. To see the interview CLICK here.

Looking to Support your Local Reach Out and Read Programs?

For Waterbury supporters, Give Local supported by the Connecticut Community Foundation, is from noon on May 6th to noon on May 7th.

For New Haven supporters, The Great Give supported by the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, is from 8:00 AM on May 6th to 8:00 PM on May 7th.

These are easy ways to support the Reach Out and Read programs in your area!

The Rotary Club of Middletown Supports

Reach Out and Read!

Recently, the Rotary Club of

Middletown donated $1,000 in support of our Middletown Reach Out and Read programs. Through their generous donation, new books will be purchased for both Community Health Center, Inc. Middletown and

Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. Thank you very much for your generous support!

A New Study Regarding Math and Early Childhood Learning

A new study shows that children as young as age 3 can understand the meaning and value of numbers, and "might be more ready for direct math instruction when they begin formal schooling than previously believed," according to a Washington Post article entitled- "Kids may be ready for math earlier than you think, new research suggests". The article notes that "very young children learn math because they are continually exposed to multi-digit numbers, whether from telephone numbers or price tags...they might begin to understand numbers from language because adults are continually talking about numbers, whether they are commenting on a calendar, asking their children to push a number in an elevator or looking for a room number in an office building."

You can read the full article HERE.

Reach Out and Read New England

Connecticut Newsletter

Spring 2014

Serving 37, 967 Connecticut Children

in 70 Clinical Locations

________________________________________

Dear Reach Out and Read Supporters:

As if spring isn't wonderful enough, April marks a huge milestone for Reach Out and Read Connecticut. On April 5 we will hold our first fundraiser for our Connecticut programs - ONCE UPON A TIME!

In the three and a half years I have been with Reach Out and Read, I have dreamed of the day when we could have our very own event. I am bursting at the seams as that day is almost here! Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Connecticut Advisory Board, and of our many generous sponsors, Once Upon A Time will be a reality in less than two short weeks. I, personally, hope you will attend to celebrate children, reading, and the work of Reach Out and Read in Connecticut through storybooks coming alive during this magical and memorable evening. During the evening, we will launch our new Reach Out and Read Connecticut video and honor a special program, doctor, and creative supporter. It will truly be a dream come true evening. I look forward to celebrating with you all.

Kind regards,

Chris

Christine Garber

Connecticut Executive Director

Love children's books?

Imagine them coming alive.......perhaps a pasta station with a Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs theme or a luscious collection of sweets and tarts, displayed in a scene straight out of The Queen Of Hearts nursery rhyme. Inspired pairings of caterers, restaurants and beverage companies with designers, party planners and artists will bring some of your favorite children's books to life on Saturday, April 5th for Reach Out and Read's ONCE UPON A TIME fundraiser!

We are very excited for our first Connecticut fundraiser! Please join us in honoring one of our Connecticut Reach Out and Read programs that evening along with one of our Connecticut providers. We will also be presenting one of our partners with a creative award for their work with Reach Out and Read. All of the proceeds from the event will support our Connecticut programs, not the expenses of the event!

Make your plans today to join us in celebration of the mission and programs of Reach Out and Read Connecticut. Tickets are $75 per person. To purchase your ticket(s) click HERE.

As an extra benefit, the first $10,000 raised will be matched by a generous grant from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven! What a wonderful way to double the impact your donation makes!

(For questions about sponsorship, in-kind creative donors, tickets, and event details, please contact Event Chair Josh Chalmers, at josh@earth2company.com

Books Build Better Brains:

Critical Intervention in the First 1,000 Days

Reach Out and Read's "Books Build Better Brains; Critical Intervention for the First 1,000 Days" briefing held at the State Capitol on January 28th , 2014, was a huge success! Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, Wisconsin Reach Out and Read Medical Director, walked attendees through the early stages of brain development and described the impact of toxic stress on young children.

Dr. Cathy Wiley, Connecticut Reach Out and Read Medical Director, discussed the Reach Out and Read model and outcomes, emphasizing the importance of both developing critical early literacy skills in children and engaging their parents.

A big thank you to our expert panelists, Dr. Navsaria, Dr. Wiley, and Dr. Cynthia Roque; to the Committees on Children, Education and Public Health; to the legislators who attended; and to all of the guests. They provided a very engaged audience and rich discussion during the Q&A portion of the briefing. It was great to see all the wonderful support from the community and the legislature.

To view the taped briefing, please CLICK here.

In response to the overwhelming interest in the briefing, we plan to hold a second one during the next legislative session.

Support from our State Legislators!

On January 30th, State Senator Bob Duff (D-25th district) and Chris Peron (D-137th district) visited Norwalk Community Health Center, not only to cheer on the staff, but also to practice what doctors preach by reading to a group of young patients. To the children's (and adults') delight, the legislators

used creative voices to read many books to the children in the waiting room of the health center. Senator Duff even read one of the books in Spanish! Senator Duff and Representative Perone both did a fabulous job making it an enjoyable time for all! We are so grateful for their support of our work promoting early literacy throughout Connecticut! To read some of the press about the visit, CLICK here and here.

On February 4th, State Representative Lezlye Zupkus

(89th General Assembly District; Bethany, Cheshire, Prospect) visited the Reach Out and Read program at Pond Place Pediatrics. The children loved

talking with her and hearing her read to them! Representative Zupkus did a wonderful job and is a huge supporter of Reach Out and Read and early literacy. Thank you to Dr. Karen Kennedy and Dr. Allyson Rovetto for hosting the visit at Pond Place Pediatrics.

Check out all the fun from the Senator's visit here.

Thank you to all of the legislators who recently visited Connecticut Reach Out and Read programs. Additional pictures and videos of the visits can be seen on our

CT Facebook page!

WELCOME!

Pediatric Associates of CT, Waterbury

Dr. Cynthia Roque, Reach Out and Read Connecticut Advisory Board Member, and her colleagues at Pediatric Associates of Connecticut in Waterbury, have signed on as the newest Reach Out and Read program here in Connecticut. The United Way of Greater Waterbury provided the funding to bring Reach Out and Read to this practice.

Pediatric Associates of Connecticut is located at 160 Robbins Street, Waterbury and served as one of the locations for Reach Out and Read Connecticut's upcoming video.

Check out these creative exam rooms at Pediatric Associates of Connecticut. Their practice is filled with beautifully designed themed exam rooms for children. Nice job and welcome to the Reach Out and Read family! And a big thank you to the United Way of Greater Waterbury for their continued support of Reach Out and Read!

Don't forget to give us your mailing address here!

To donate to Reach Out and Read Connecticut, click here.

Thank you!