NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC.

120 Washington Street Suite 400 Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 782-7110 Fax: (315) 782-0047 web: www.nnycf.org email: rande@nnycf.org For Immediate Release February 24, 2014 For more information, contact Rande Richardson 782-7110

A Book in Every Hand Project Launched

Group Aims to Purchase a Book for Every First-Grader Teachers and librarians are teaming up with the Northern New York Community Foundation and Flower Memorial Library with the goal of raising funds to purchase a book for every first-grader in the Watertown City School District. The volunteer group hopes to raise $5,000 before the end of the school year to reach their goal. The program, titled A Book in Every Hand: Scratching the Surface of Early Literacy, is being led by Maria Mesires, a science teacher at Case Middle School and Maureen Lavarnway, an English as a Second Language teacher at Knickerbocker and Ohio Elementary Schools. Assisting the effort are Alison Spooner, a librarian at Case Middle School, and Barbara Wheeler, Amanda Tehonica, and Ashley Pickett, all of Flower Memorial Library. Reading is an integral skill that all students need throughout their life in order to be successful in every way, shape and form. My hope, by providing a book to every first-grader in the District, is to spark a love of reading and an interest to sustain that love of reading, said Ms. Mesires. I have always liked the phrase it takes a village to raise a child and by partnering with the Northern New York Community Foundation, the Watertown community can take part in assisting to grow the literacy of our children, she said. If successful, the group plans to make the campaign an annual one, each year with a different focus. This years theme is Diving into Nonfiction. The group is actively seeking support from individuals, organizations and businesses. As a partnership with the Community Foundation, all gifts made directly to the Foundation in support of the program are tax-deductible. To make a gift, send to: Northern New York Community Foundation, Attn: A Book in Every Hand, 120 Washington St., Suite 400, Watertown, NY 13601. The Northern New York Community Foundation works with individual and corporate donors, as well as non-profit organizations and schools, to enhance the overall value of their missions and interests ###

A Book in Every Hand

Scratching the Surface of Early Literacy

Help support the growth of reading in Watertowns children!

The A Book In Every Hand project is raising money to purchase a book for every 1st grader in the Watertown City School District. Supporting the love of reading at a young age has proven to create lifelong readers and boost academic success.

2014 Theme: Diving into Nonfiction!

Submit to Northern NY Community Foundation c/o A Book In Every Hand 120 Washington Street Suite 400 Watertown, NY 13601 Please consider making a donation! Your contribution is tax deductible!

Community Supporters

Program Directors: Maria Mesires or Maureen Lavarnway (315) 783-4760 (315) 771-0676