SALT LAKE CITY
At the YWCA of Salt Lake City, approximately 20 children that live in
shelters or low-income housing, attended the Reading Rally, as well as
14 volunteers. Children participated in four action stations. At the first
station they made a bookmark. At the second station two volunteers dressed
as witches and told scary stories. The children passed a decorated graveyard
complete with tombstones, coffin and real skeleton on their way to the
third station where they received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and made
a Harry Potter cape (white pillow cases cut in half and tied with a bow
and which the children decorated with fabric markers). This was a big
hit! The final station was sugar cookie decorating. Before leaving, each
child was able to select a new book to take home along with their trick-or-treat
bag. Member firms generously donated items for the Reading Rally.
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SAN
ANTONIO
Sixty-five pre-kindergarten through 5th graders at Hawthorne Elementary
School enjoyed snacks as they listened to the popular band “Full
Throttle”, who sang a special song written exclusively for the Hawthorne
students. The children then had stories read to them by actors from the
Magik Children’s Theatre, who dressed in character to the stories
they read. At the end of the Reading Rally, each child received a canvas
bag filled with books and other items donated by many EWI member firms
and sponsors.
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SAN DIEGO
 The
theme was “Oceans of Reading” and the 39 children from the
Polinsky Center for Children participated in activities centered on the
ocean. The Polinsky Center is an in-take center for children who have
been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. A storyteller
from Birch Aquarium read two books to the children. The morning activity
stations included that included hat making, Planet Earth Express (a traveling
exhibit of ocean life from the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of
Oceanography), making treasure chests that included school supplies and
created their own story books related to the theme of the event. Fourteen
EWI volunteers enjoyed the hugs and as one little boy expressed, “I
wish we had a day like this every weekend! When are you coming back?”
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SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY
The event was held at the Boys and Girls Club and involved an art project
where the children made a magnetic frame for pictures on the refrigerator.
The frame was decorated with a Halloween theme. The 48 children and 15
volunteers then gathered to discuss the importance of reading and how
it makes a difference in the quality of life and job level. Two books
were read; one about a boy who didn’t want to be himself anymore
and the kinds of adventures he would have as something else. Snacks were
served and children each selected 5 new books to take home along with
a bag of school supplies and a Reading Rally T-shirt.
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SEATTLE
 As
a special touch to their Reading Rally this year, the Chapter donated
dozens of children’s books to Gilda’s Club – Seattle.
The mission of Gilda’s Club is to provide a place where people with
cancer and their families and friends join with others to build social
and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. The books help
children deal with a parent or loved one living with cancer or who has
passed away. It brought tears to many EWI members while reading the books
that could positively touch a child’s life. No children were present
at the event, but the Chapter is planning an event at the beginning of
the year to include children.
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SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY
The Reading Rally was held in conjunction with the Shreveport-Bossier
Community Renewal (SBCR) – a provider of quality programs for inner-city
children, youth and their families in a nurturing home-like environment.
Forty-four children and 12 adults from the Allendale, Barksdale Annex,
Cedar Grove and Highland Friendship Houses, participated with 11 EWI volunteers
in the event held at Summer Grove Baptist Church.
 “Clifford
the Big Red Dog” (a costume worn by Kay Carson and donated by Scholastic)
greeted the children and had Polaroid pictures taken with them. CeCe the
Clown and her sidekick Klutzy, provided entertainment and talked about
several topics inlcuding keeping the environment clean, respect, and personal
manners. They also involved the children in the “magical”
coloring book, and made each child a piece of balloon art. Charles Sweeny,
the Great Magician, mystified the children with magic. Morris Graves (husband
of President Judy Graves) gave the children train rides on the “Summer
Grove Express”.
 Children
from grades pre-kindergarten to 5th were encouraged to read books at each
SBCR Friendship House. Each house presented awards for 1) most books read;
2) most chapters read; and 3) most improved reader. Each winner was presented
a certificate and a special book from the Chapter, a trophy or medal.
Reading Rally T-shirts, sun visors and books were given to all children
present and each Friendship House was given a collection of books for
their reading rooms. Many member firms and sponsors supported the event.
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SPOKANE
On October 21st, 8 EWI volunteers arrived at the Boys & Girls Club
of Spokane expecting 24 children. To their surprise they actually had
40! Guest author Kenn Nesbitt described how to write and explained the
different parts of a story. He also read books to the children which they
discussed. Each child received a bag of storybook writing supplies and
a bag of snacks.
A second Reading Rally event was held on November 6th at the Browne Elementary
School and included attendees from Finch and Ridgeview Elementary Schools
as well. A total of 60 children in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades enjoyed
guest author Kenn Nesbitt's reading of a story and discussing it with
him afterwards. He also explained what makes up a story. The children
wrote their own stories and read some of them to the rest of the group.
Stories were judged on November 16th and prizes were awarded to the winners.
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TACOMA
The Tacoma Chapter spread a literacy message to under-privileged youth
who are clients of a local food and clothing bank. Three times a month,
“My Sister’s Pantry” opens its doors to the community,
proving a hot meal, clothing and groceries. The Chapter frequently volunteers
with their projects. Over a 100 books were distributed to over 30 children
and 8 EWI volunteers talked to them about the importance of reading.
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TAMPA BAY
Seven EWI chapter members arrived at Edison Elementary School on October
18th and marched with 43 third-graders to their classroom. Storyteller
and Education Coordinator Sartura Shuman, from member firm WEDU-TV, talked
to the children about the importance of reading everything from cereal
boxes to basketball contracts. The children were knowledgeable about the
three parts of writing a story and had already penned their own stories.
Ms. Shuman read the story “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Day” authored by Judith Viorst. The children also
watched the video “Arthur Writes a Story”. EWI members served
snacks and distributed canvas bags filled with pencils, notebook paper,
books, and stickers, along with a Reading Rally T-shirt.
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TULSA
 At
the Kids’ World event sponsored by Tulsa Global Alliance, the Tulsa
Chapter hosted a booth and presented information on 10 women inventors
and their inventions and gave children a bookmark “Believing in
yourself is the first step to success and if you can imagine it, you can
achieve it – If you can dream it, you can become it.” The
Chapter had a game board set up and the children played the game of “Concentration”
to match the women inventor with her invention. A few of the inventions
were on display. This 4-day event reached approximately 4,000 children.
Thirty volunteers manned the EWI booth and display.
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WASHINGTON,
DC
The Chapter chose a new venture called “Reach Out and Read”
for their Reading Rally. “Reach Our and Read” is a national
non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by making books a
routine part of pediatric primary care. The local site is located at the
Inova Pediatric Center in Annandale, Virginia. This center provides health
care and wellness education for children of low-income families. Approximately
$326 was received in donations from members and sponsors. A $266 check
was presented to Inova Pediatric Center to buy books for the pediatric
primary care unit. The Chapter also donated 33 Reading Rally T-shirts
and books to be given to the children coming to the unit.
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WICHITA
On October 18th the Chapter held a Reading Rally at Colvin Elementary
along with the assistance of 8 firefighters form the city and county fire
departments. For a brief time, a fire truck was also on display. The firefighters
read stories, answered questions from the students and assisted them in
writing their own storybook. There were 53 third graders and 13 EWI members
in attendance. The project was supported by a $1,000 literacy grant from
Wal-Mart and contributions from member firms and sponsors. All children
received a T-shirt, a book about forest fires, and goodie bag filled with
crayons, markers, glue stick, pencil and scissors.
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