Books For Kids - Erie | Newsletter | Vol 19 No 4 Autumn 2008


	Books For Kids, Erie Chapter

Volume 19 No. 4 Autumn 2008	An affiliate of The Books For Kids Foundation, New York, NY
Project Begins at Wayne
Board Members President Dean Baldwin, Ph.D. Vice-President Traci Teudhope Secretary Juan Fernandez, Ph.D. Treasurer Bob Monahan, CPA Members Kathleen Cantrell Jan Gatti Donna Gloekler Jane Hackenberg Shantel Hilliard Jane Levin Mary Jo Melvin, Ph.D. Patty Puline Florence Smith Jim Voss, CPA Webmaster Frank Singer www.booksforkids-erie.org		Project Begins at Wayne In our last newsletter, we announced the start of an ambitious literacy program at Wayne School in Erie. Together with sister organization First Book, Books for Kids has begun a four year program with the students, teachers, and administrators at Wayne, pledging to provide books and literacy support for the next four years, beginning with this year's entering kindergarten class. At the first visit to Wayne on November 14, volunteers Belle Koncewicz and Stacey Konkel of First Book, together with other volunteers, told stories to 108 students, gave 141 students new books, spoke to 8 parents and presented them with favors, distributed reading literature, and networked with teachers. Perhaps the most important intangible result of these visits, besides encouraging reading, is that these volunteers showed that the community of Erie cares about students and wants them to succeed. The idea behind this program is that supplying students with books, involving parents in home reading programs, allowing students free reading time at school, and offering incentives to	parents to participate in home and school activities will result in improved reading scores and a love of reading among the students. The program will be monitored at many steps along the way by reading experts from Edinboro University and Mercyhurst College. Books for Kids' involvement in this event was to provide 85 new books to give to the kindergarten children. A particularly big hit with the teachers and parents was "Tell Time With Thomas the Tank," because the classes had just begun learning how to tell time. Other books distributed included "Bob the Builder," "10 Minutes to Bedtime," "Building Machines and What they Do," "Handbag Friends," and "Shanna's Hip, Hip, Hoorey." We will be reporting regularly on the activities and progress of this program. Providing books to all these children will put a strain on our resources, both financial and human. We hope that readers of this newsletter will support this program enthusiastically!
Books for Kids, Erie Chapter P.O. Box 3059 Erie, PA 16508 (814) 898-6214 ________



Teachers Receive Books for Classrooms Books for Kids normally gives books only to needy children and youth, but in a slight departure from this policy, it held its first book distribution for teachers on November 5. Some 38 teachers from schools in Erie and Erie County came to our headquarters on East 10^th St. after school and selected books for their classroom libraries. Teachers were obviously delighted by the quality and choice of books. Exclaimations of "This is wonderful!" "This is like Christmas!" and "I'm so grateful you are doing this!" echoed in our store room at Bethany Outreach Center. This new program was begun in response to the fact that public school teachers spend between $300 and $500 a year of their own money on books and supplies for their classrooms. Recognizing this need for support, Books for Kids gave every teacher who participated the opportunity to select up to 10 books for his or her classroom library. In addition, we had somehow accumulated curricular materials, which we also gave away, and on top of this we used the opportunity to distribute multiple copies of titles we have in abundance. Thanks to volunteers Dean Baldwin, Juan Fernandez, Jane Hackenberg, Jane Levin, and Florence Smith for participating in this evening's activity. In all, over 1,000 books were given to the teachers!	Books for Birthdays New Locations Under the leadership of Jane Hackenberg, Books for Kids' Books for Birthdays program has opened three new locations: House of Mercy 2005 Woodlawn, Erie International Institute 517 East 26^th St., Erie John F. Kennedy Center 2021 East 20^th St., Erie In addition, she has arranged a trial period for Books for Birthdays at Cummunity Health Net, 1202 State St. Books for Birthdays offers 3 books per child per family through these locations, encouraging parents to play a direct role in their children's education and reading. Time for G.E. Matching Employees and retirees of G.E. are reminded that donations to Books for Kids will be matched by General Electric if the gifts are made before December 31, 2008. To register a gift, donors must make a contribution of $25 or more and notify G.E. either by calling 1-800-305-0669 or by going on line at www.gefoundation.com/matchinggifts. Third Spelling Bee Scheduled for March 31 Books for Kids' and WQLN's third annual corporate spelling bee is scheduled for Tuesday, March, 31 at Junior's Last Laugh on State Street in Erie.	Businesses, offices, organizations, or groups that would like to sponsor a team are encouraged to call Traci Teudhope at 217-6020 for sponsorship information. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help at this event or who would like to participate as a speller is also urged to call Traci at this number. It's always a great time, so mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend and cheer on your favorite team! What Kids Want At this time of year, children all over the world are making out their Christmas lists for Santa. Usually, the kids want toys or gadgets, but the students at Wayne School, when asked what they would like, provided answers that will break your hearts. Remember, this is Erie. Here is what they say: I wish there were no drug dealers on my street. I wish my mom started giving me toys. I wish my family loved me. I wish money for the poor. I wish I could help people who don't have clothes. I wish there was no violence. I wish the war would stop. I wish foster kids had a mom and a dad. I wish I could heal the world. I wish for people to stop stealing. I wish the earth can be clean. I wish for peace and love. Books for Kids hopes that all their wishes will come true!
2




Thanks to Donors As always, we owe a debt of greater than we can ever repay to all of those who support the work of Books for Kids. Without them - and you - we could not exist, let alone continue to provide brand new books to the children and youth of Erie County. Major Donors $250.^oo+ Hill, Barth and King, LLC Kiwanis Club of Erie Steris Good Neighbor Fund Benefactors $100.^oo+ Dean and Vicki Baldwin Rev. Charles & Carolyn Brock Joseph & Roberta Duska Fairview Presbyterian Church	Harry & Nicole Martin Bob & Connie Monahan Peterson Fund of the Erie Community Foundation Plyler Enter, Inc. John Newbit & Sarah Henne Rees Foundation Shawn & Sharon Rooney Allan Slovenkay Patrons $50.^oo+ Emerson Gridley Staff & Students Timothy &Cheryl Maloney (Memorial for Mary Maloney) Sunflower Club-South End Benefit Assoc. Sponsors $25.^oo+ Jean Clover Cohen's Carpet, Inc.	Clarence & Neva Cunningham J. A. Dale Fred's Furniture Dr. Carl & Wendy Kallgren Dr. Mary Jo Melvin Drs. Greg and Gayle Morris Dr. Oscar & Jeanne Schmitt Team Hardinger Dr. David & Mary Teufel Friends $10.^oo+ Carlo & Kimberly Fachetti Dolores & Casimer Osiecki Eric & Gina Sandberg William & June Wood Thank you again to all of our donors and sponsors. Very best wishes to everyone for a happy and blessed holiday!


Kiwanis members assemble gift bags	Lynne Poyer of Kiwanis, Diane Zenewicz of Community Health Net, and Jane Levin of Books for Kids display some of the books provided by Books for Kids
Books for Kids donated books to the Kiwanis Club of Erie. Kiwanians assembled these into gift bags for distribution to Community Health Net. Each gift bag contained literacy tips, a theether, and a book donated by Books for Kids.
3



The Books for Kids Foundation, Erie Chapter P.O. Box 3059 Erie, PA 16508	Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Erie, PA Permit No. 943
WON'T YOU PLEASE HELP US? Please use this coupon to lend us your support. The children and youth of Erie County will thank you. [Has your membership expired? The date on the mailing label indicates your last donation.] ____ Major Donor $250+ ____ Benefactor $100+ ____ Patron $50+ ____ Sponsor $25+ ____ Friend $10+ Mail the completed form and check payable to "Books for Kids, Erie Chapter," P.O. Box 3059 Erie, PA 16508. Donations to Books for Kids are tax deductible for those who itemize.
4