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RIFSoCal’s 2009 ORIENTATION Inspires Readers for Tomorrow!

By 9 am on September 30, close to 300 RIFSoCal Program Coordinators, Principals, Board members, supporters and presenters extraordinaire gathered at St. Anne’s Group Home to kick off our 2009-2010 program year and Inspire Readers for Tomorrow.

Diane Namm, author of over 40 books for children and a playwright/director for the West of Broadway theater company, shared her passion to promote literacy by bringing a new generation of children into the theater, introducing them to updated versions of classic stories and letting them take part in the action. Dangerman, a modern superhero, entertained and inspired us with his determination to promote literacy and safety for children in urban America.  The Library Fairy, a magical mascot of books and stories, ignited the love of reading through folklore while captivating the audience with her drum and storytelling magic. Dr. Danny Brassell, our keynote speaker, left everyone motivated and inspired!  An associate professor in the teacher education department at a California State University, Danny filled the room with laughter as he shared his personal trials and tribulations in the classroom as well as why he loves to teach.  His creative solutions to reach the reluctant reader truly left every Program Coordinator invigorated and ready to inspire readers for tomorrow. 

Nasdaq Rings Closing Bell to Book A Brighter Future

The sound of NASDAQ’s closing bell in New York City’s Times Square celebrated the July 1 launch of Book A Brighter Future, Reading Is Fundamental and Macy’s 2009 campaign!  Watch Carol H. Rasco, President and CEO of RIF, and Martine Reardon, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Macy’s live at http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx.
Carol and Martine were joined by RIF children from Harlem Academy (part of St. Aloysius Education Clinic in New York, NY – a SHARE program!)

Raising more than $19.5 million since 2004, this annual national partnership has increased awareness and support of children’s literacy for local RIF programs and provided reading resources to children across our nations who need them most. 

RIFSoCal is extraordinarily grateful to Macy’s and RIF for their continuing support.  Together, their belief in children’s literacy is helping to make our 100,000 Dreams campaign a reality.

 

Macy’s/RIF Host Spelling Bee

As part of Book A Brighter Future, RIF and Macy’s hosted a simultaneous series of spelling bees on August 16 in cities across the United States. One of the locations for RIFSoCal was South Coast Plaza in Santa Ana. The judges of the spelling bee—Candace Shih, reporter for the OC Register, Carol Henault, RIFSoCal Executive Director, and Kathryn Glassmeyer, Director of Community Relations for South Coast Plaza—congratulated the winner, Joseph Maa, who will be going to Washington D.C. for the national event.

Please Dream with us! We cannot realize our 200,000 Dreams Campaign without you!