Westfield Garden State Plaza to Host Jumpstart's "Read for the Record"
Thursday, August 17 2006, 02:45 PM EDT
Contributed by: Mel Fabrikant
Laura Bush’s Public Service Announcement, click to view the video
In first-time initiative to bring awareness to the importance of reading to young children, Pearson Education will sponsor an early literacy event at the Westfield Garden State Plaza on August 24th from 11am-2pm to benefit Jumpstart’s Read for the Record.
The Read for the Record national campaign will set the world record for the number of people reading the same book in a single day.
Pearson Employees will host a Read for the Record reading and a family book activity in the Playtown area of the Westfield Garden State Plaza together with Starbucks and American Eagle Outfitters.
Jumpstart, a national nonprofit organization, is currently working with 10,000 preschool children throughout the United States to help each child build language, literacy and social skills that are critical for their success upon entering kindergarten. The Jumpstart program pairs college students one-to-one with at-risk preschoolers.
“For several years, Pearson, Starbucks and American Eagle Outfitters have been corporate sponsors of Jumpstart,†said Anne Adamo, Human Resources, Pearson Education. “Now, we are collaborating to create a unique charitable partnership, with Penguin Young Readers Group publishing a custom limited edition of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper with new art by Loren Long, Pearson underwriting all costs, and Starbucks retailing the book in their 5,000 U.S. stores.†American Eagle Outfitters has produced the official Campaign t-shirt. All three partners are hosting Read for the Record events which will involve thousands of their employees across the U.S.
Jumpstart’s Read for The Record
NBC’s TODAY Show host Matt Lauer has written the foreword to the custom limited edition of The Little Engine That Could, and will feature Jumpstart’s Read for the Record on TODAY August 24.
“Jumpstart is now working in 64 communities in partnership with 70 colleges and universities across the country,†said Rob Zeaske, Jumpstart Vice President for Development. “We are aiming for the day when Jumpstart serves in virtually every city and town, working to help the at-risk preschoolers in each community prepare for success in school.â€
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record builds on the important work Jumpstart is doing in communities across the country and will broaden the organization’s impact to thousands more children. Through Jumpstart, children like 4 year-old Antwone McCaskell can make extraordinary strides. Antwone was recommended for the Jumpstart program in 2005 because he lacked the language skills needed to speak in full sentences, and therefore had no confidence in his abilities to participate in class. Just six months after entering Jumpstart’s program, Antwone had made so much progress that he was among five children chosen to participate in a taping with Matt Lauer of the TODAY Show, as a way to promote Jumpstart’s national awareness campaign. While Antwone’s story is powerful, it is not unique. Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign promotes – across the country – the early learning experiences that resulted in Antwone’s transformation.
WHERE: Westfield Garden State Plaza
Playtown Area, Entrance # 7
One Garden State Plaza
Paramus NJ 07652
(201) 843 2121
WHEN: Thursday, August 24
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
In addition to registering to Read for the Record on August 24, 2006, Jumpstart and Pearson Education recommend the following ways for others to get involved and promote early education:
- Volunteer your time to work with children and teachers at a school, community center, Head Start or child care program;
- Support the creation of high quality preschool experiences in your local community, state, and across the country
- Thank early childhood educators and others who play a vital role in preparing young children to succeed in school and beyond.
Consider donating a book to one of the many at-risk children who have no books in their homes. You can do this at www.readfortherecord.org.
Mrs. Laura Bush is Honorary Chairperson of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, and is supporting the Campaign with public service announcements.
ABOUT JUMPSTART’S READ FOR THE RECORD:
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Campaign serves to raise awareness about the early education crisis, provide effective tools to address this crisis, and increase support for Jumpstart’s important work. Through this Campaign, Jumpstart and its partners – including Starbucks, Pearson, Penguin (USA), American Eagle and the Corporation for National and Community Service – will further their national impact by inviting adults across America to read with young children and set the world record for the number of children reading the same book in a single day with an adult. The record-setting day: August 24, 2006… The record-setting book: The Little Engine That Could. Children and adults will set the record by registering for the event (at www.readfortherecord.org) and reading in their own homes or at one of the many community events held nationwide – in Starbucks stores, shopping malls, public libraries, parks and other venues.
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