(SAVANNAH, GA) The Rotary Club of Savannah has partnered with United Way of the Coastal Empire and the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System for “Read United Buddies,” a program in which volunteers visit selected second-graders twice weekly to read with the students.
“We have partnered with United Way and the school system to develop this shared reading mentorship program and we are now recruiting the volunteers needed to make it successful. This effort continues Rotary’s long history of supporting early childhood literacy,” said Rotary Club of Savannah President Eddie DeLoach
DeLoach pointed out that at present, only 56% of Chatham County’s second graders read on grade level according to the Georgia Board of Education. Similar programs have been shown to increase reading proficiency in other communities by as much as 30%.
The program will launch in October, with volunteers visiting Otis Brock and Windsor Forest elementary schools. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment for the entire school year, spending 30 minutes twice a week at the assigned school to read with a second grader who needs support to read on grade level. Training will be provided prior to the launch of the program.
Volunteers must clear the background check performed by the public schools, a process which takes about two weeks. After that, volunteers will be trained by the school system’s literacy specialists in preparation for the program launch at the beginning of October.
The first step toward becoming a Read United Buddy is to complete the simple form at this link: http://uwce.info/ReadUnitedBuddies. For more information, contact cdean@uwce.org or 912-651-7707.
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE: The mission of the United Way of the Coastal Empire is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of community. The nonprofit organization provides a safety net for the most vulnerable and pathways for upward mobility so everyone can thrive. United Way’s Read United efforts are a year round series of programs focused on early childhood literacy including Read United Day, Reading Rallies with Malcolm Mitchell, summer reading linked to summer food programs, and now Read United Buddies in partnership with Rotary Club of Savannah.
ABOUT THE ROTARY CLUB OF SAVANNAH: The Rotary Club of Savannah includes 220 community leaders and volunteers. Over the past 108 years, the club has championed local and regional developments that include completing the road to Tybee Island, improving the Savannah River for commercial traffic, enhancing the Dixie Highway system in southeast Georgia and building bridges over the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers. Most recently, in recognition of its 100th anniversary, the club raised funds and built an all-accessible playground in Forsyth Park. Meetings are held each Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DeSoto Hotel, 15 E. Liberty St. For more information, visit www.savrotary.org
CONTACT
Rotary Club of Savannah
P.O. Box 11105
Savannah, GA 31412
912-272-9711
MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young, Public Image Chair for The Rotary Club of Savannah
Marjorie Young
912-844-9990