Raise-A-Reader continues to make a difference in Prince George as hundreds of people of all ages are encouraged to find the magic in reading and books, learn new literacy skills at school and home, and see new worlds open up before their eyes.
The annual campaign last September raised $40,000 to distribute among schools and organizations applying for funds for literacy programs and projects.
The total funds included $33,000 collected locally during the campaign, together with contributions from the provincial government and national partners. The remaining $7,000 came from the Success by 6 program, which is funded by United Way, BC Credit Unions and Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Bob Moore, Success by 6 co-ordinator for Prince George and North Central B.C., said his organization is an "avid supporter of programs for children up to six years."
"We knew that Raise-A-Reader had some good program initiatives, but didn't have enough funds to cover them. We had money not yet allocated, and know RAR initiatives helps us meet our mandate, especially in reducing barriers in early educational development."
He said programs involving preschool work and children in care help to reduce the barriers "so every child can have an equal opportunity for success at the school entry age."
More than 25 schools and organizations are receiving RAR grants ranging from $400 to $5,000 to promote reading and writing in many ways.
Names of organizations receiving grants and their literacy project name are as follows:
Elementary schools: Ron Brent (Reading Power); Peden Hill (Home Reading Rewards); Valemount (Project Read); Giscome (Giscome Literacy Boost); Ecole Spruceland (Reading Success for E); Malaspina (Non-fiction Reading); Sacred Heart (Reading Powers); Edgewood (Accelerated Reading); Harwin (Adrienne Gear program); Pinewood (Primary Literacy); Southridge (Young Readers); Ecole Austin (French Immersion Home Readers); Blackburn (Graphic Novels); Glenview (Glenview Meets the World); St. Mary's (Reading Power).
Middle and secondary schools: Heather Park middle school (Adrienne Gear program); Kelly Road (Let me tell you a story); Lakewood (Reaching Reluctant Readers).
Organizations: P.G. public Library (P.G. Newspaper Digitalization); P.G. Community Services (My very own bag of love); Elizabeth Fry Society (The Tween Scene); UNBC First Nations Centre (Weaving Words Festival); Vantage Vision and Reading (Vision and reading); P.G. Pathfinders (Raising Literacy Through Honours); Latin Association (Latino Kids Corner); Learning Partnership (Welcome to Kindergarten) and UNBC (Junior Writers Camp).
The next step for Raise A Reader, a joint Prince George Citizen and Canwest program, is to prepare for the next community campaign and RAR Day in September.
Alan Ramsay, RAR co-ordinator at The Citizen, sends along special thanks to all those in the community who support the program in so many ways.
"I believe that, together, we can make a difference in the community by raising the literacy bar."
