LOCAL NON-PROFIT TO GIVE FREE BOOKS TO UNDERSERVED ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN DURING FREE LITERACY EVENT IN SANTA ANA
Jumpstart at UCI Annual Spring Literacy Event to Bring Books to Life to Encourage Early Childhood Reading Habits
WHAT: More than 450 families from across Orange County are expected to attend Jumpstart’s free annual Spring Literacy event on Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. at the Heritage Museum in Santa Ana. The exciting event brings books to life with story-themed booths such as the Giving Tree, readings from children’s authors, activities such as a Cat in the Hat sack race, science experiments and more to encourage an interest in reading among preschool age children. Jumpstart will give more than 1,000 free books to children who attend the event. Nurses from Santa Ana Unified School District will be present as well to provide free basic health screenings for children.
“By age four, the average child in a professional family hears about 35 million more words than children in low-income families,” says John Harmon, JumpStart UCI Site Manager. “UCI college students commit a year of volunteering with Jumpstart to help students in low-income schools develop early reading habits that can lead to long-term success.
WHO: Jumpstart is a national early education organization that trains college students and community corps members to serve preschools in low-income neighborhoods with early childhood reading programs. Jumpstart’s proven curriculum helps children develop the language and literacy skills necessary to be ready for kindergarten, setting them on a path to success and to reduce achievement gaps.
WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 2015, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHERE: Heritage Museum
3101 W. Harvard St.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
WHY: Research has shown that children who are reading at a younger age tend to achieve more and experience more long-term success in their careers.
CONTACT:
John Harmon/ Sandy Nesheiwat Rodriguez
Jumpstart
949-824-8867 / 714-606-7075
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