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The gift of reading

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Contributed by: Sheldon Judson on 4/10/2007

The Lakewood Sunrise Optimist Club gifts new hardcover books to Jeffco grade schools.

Our Optimist Club works with 5 jeffco School District grade schools to gift new hardcover books to "at risk" kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade classes. Deane Elementary, Stein Elementary, Foothills Elementary, Lasley Elementary and Foster Elementary identify the "at risk" kids by giving us their first name and grade.

Most if not all of these kids have never owned a book. On of the kids last year said: "We have a book in our home"! It was a phone book. Many of these books are English/Spanish books; we believe we can also help the parents of these children.

We conduct a peach sale every year to help fund this project by getting the peaches from our western slope in late August. The new hardcover books cost $14.00 each and we gift 100 books to each of the aforementioned schools. Bo Peep Bookstore and Full Moon Bookstore give us discounts to help us with this project.

We feel the community benefits from this program in several ways: It is likely that there is an increase in the aggregate percentage of students scoring in the CSAP tests of reading, writing, mathematics and science. There should be a decrease in achievement gaps among ethnic groups. Also there should be an increase in students reading at grade level.

There are other funds that come from direct donations of books or monies from individuals who believe in this program. they come from friends, relatives, doctors and others familiar with this project. This year we are adding a pig roast and giving piggy banks to those who will fill the banks with loose change or checks. We are giving prizes to the best dressed pig, the heaviest pig, the Presidents Pick, etc. Entertainment will be part of the evening in mid August at a Lakewood Park Picnic Area.

If you are willing to help and for additional information call Cal Judson at 303-526-5546

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Sheldon Judson

Golden , CO

Sheldon Judson has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 4/10/2007. Sheldon Judson 's average story rating is 0.

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