Children and volunteers sported iconic red and white stripped hats at Sunset Heights to kick off Read Across America – the largest celebration of literacy in the country.
In honor of Read Across America Day and Dr. Suess’ birthday, Hope through Housing hosted a weeklong celebration in March, immersing children in stories that introduce children to new worlds and foster essential lifelong skills.
This year, our programs engaged more than 250 children at locations throughout Southern California, in Texas and Florida, nurturing young minds through the joy of reading.
“I’ve noticed a big improvement since my child joined the program three years ago,” said Ariana, whose child is in the Corona del Rey after-school program. “He loves to read, so this event is really fun and a great way for him to grow.”
A dedicated team of more than 20 volunteers from First Citizen’s Bank, Target, UPS, DoubleTree, Hillside Church, UC Riverside, Amigos Church of Yorba Linda, CITI Bank, the Empire Strykers and Women of Hope donned striped hats and crimson bowties to read with children.
The Read Across America celebration is a part of Hope through Housing’s commitment to early literacy amid declining reading scores worsened by the pandemic. Monthly reading events reinforce our commitment to literacy learning. Our Building Bright Futures program is designed to focus on the whole person – offering academic and social engagement for children living in underserved communities.
Studies show that reading with young children builds language acquisition, communication and social skills, in addition to boosting overall literacy.
“At Hope through Housing, we believe reading is the key to unlocking a world of opportunity,” said Alyssa Cotter, Hope through Housing’s Executive Director. “Through early literacy, we’re not just building reading skills, we are shaping brighter futures and every book read takes them one step closer to success.