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Boggle For Books

Reading Is Fundamental Southern California (RIFSoCal) is excited to present Boggle for Books, our first-ever Boggle™ tournament fundraiser on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the beautiful Autry National Center of the American West from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Join RIFSoCal and fellow wordsmiths for a friendly Boggle™ competition, an exciting silent auction, food, drinks, and an evening of good company – to help foster a love of reading in at-risk and underserved children.  You can choose to play as a Boggle™ Novice, Boggle™ Pro or just watch the word search action unfold!  All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards RIFSoCal, to help build home libraries for over 75,000 children and distribute more than 225,000 new books.  To purchase tickets or sponsorship packages please call (323) 890-0876.

Collaboration with West of Broadway Theater Company

Producing an exciting series of interactive productions, West of Broadway and Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California share a goal 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.

West of Broadway’s recent updated classic productions (written and directed by Artistic Director Diane Namm) include Mrs. Scrooge,based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, 

Bunny Tales Episode IV: Bunny Wars, based on Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit and HUCK, based on Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. West of Broadway’s You, the Jury Series presented 12 Angry Jurors, a modern adaptation of 12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose   and MONSTER, based on the award-winning novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers.  Members of the audience participate in the updated classics by helping the hero banish the villain. For the You, the Jury productions, audiences serve as jurors, delivering a verdict, which changes the outcome of each of these courtroom dramas.
For further information and to order tickets, please visit http://www.westofbroadway.com.

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. 

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.

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