Walton County, Fla. (August 29, 2016) – The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy celebrated a new partnership with the Walton County School District on Friday at a sold-out community fundraiser that raised more than $40,000 and fully funded what will be a three-year intensive reading pilot program at Van R. Butler Elementary School.
The community still can help by donating to the “reading rally” and book-giveaway at Butler Elementary coming up in September for all third-graders.
Nearly 200 guests enjoyed “Laughs for Literacy” with Southern humorist and best-selling author Jill Conner Browne, a Mississippi resident widely known as “The Sweet Potato Queen.” Several of her nine books have been No. 1 on The New York Times® Best Seller List. Sundog Books of Seaside sponsored the book-signing for attendees.
“We are committed to an educated community where literacy and reading thrive,” said Keith Howard, President and CEO of Howard Group. The event’s presenting sponsor was Silver Sands Premium Outlets, A Howard Group and Simon Center.
One hundred percent of the event’s proceeds benefit the Foundation and the Walton County launch, thanks to support from Merrill Lynch—Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates, CHELCO, The 30A Company, Sundog Books, J. McLaughlin, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.
Additional supporters from across South Walton and 30A include Roselie Dining & Seafood Bar, Allison Craft Designs, Twin Oaks Farmstand, LeCreuset, Vera Bradley, Wine World and The Craft Bar, and Visit South Walton.
Butler Elementary is the pilot site because it has the largest third-grade class population, expected to grow again, to about 210 this fall. Across Walton County, more than 40 percent of all third-graders are at least 3-6 months or more behind in “reading on grade level.” That is not uncommon across most Florida counties—and the challenge is a national one.
“The Walton County School District is grateful to have this additional intensive support for struggling readers,” said Superintendent Carlene Anderson. “There are so many reasons a student has a reading and comprehension deficit, and it is absolutely critical we help them at this age. Reading literally impacts every other subject for them in school.”
Proceeds from Friday’s event also support a back-to-school “reading rally,” scheduled for September at Butler Elementary. The book giveaway party is for all third-graders, not just those enrolled in the program. Butler Principal Tammy Smith also attended Friday’s event.
Former First Lady Barbara Bush founded the Foundation in 1989 and is considered a pioneer for shining a light on “family literacy”—before there was a bona fide national movement and consistent proven research related to early childhood learning.
“We advocate for what Mrs. Bush always believed—that literacy is a civil right, and that reading should be a core value in every home in America,” said Liza McFadden, President and CEO of the Foundation, as she addressed both Walton County residents and visitors from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and beyond.
“St. Joe Community Foundation provided the seed grant to ensure the program runs for three consecutive years, while Friday’s event covered much of the non-program expenses and the reading rally,” said local resident Kelly Layman, who coordinated the work that culminated in Friday’s fundraiser. She is a former Sr. Vice President at the Foundation. “Any additional donations from the community will underwrite more books distributed to Butler students at the reading rally in September!”
Since launching in 2002, this particular Foundation program has served a total of more than 48,000 students nationwide. The Walton County launch will mark the 93rd program site in the Sunshine State alone.
According to national statistics, students who do not read proficiently by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
Elementary school teachers identify and refer struggling readers to this program with permission of parents, and each student is paired with a teen who has been specifically trained in the nationally acclaimed, trademarked program. The students meet regularly for one-on-one mentoring sessions, during which they practice reading from a series of specific books concentrated around STEM issues as well. A teacher is paid, to collect the data and serve as the adviser. The program is regularly evaluated by third-party, independent researchers.
The results are stunning: All students enrolled in the program nationally last year were an average of eight months behind in grade-level reading. By the end of the program year, 40 percent were back up reading at or above grade level, while all enrollees significantly improved. There is no socioeconomic or other threshold to assist a child in the program—it is simply who can benefit from the program the most.
The program also helps students build a home library, providing students with 17 books each school year that they keep. Parents of mentees sign an agreement to reinforce the intensive study by listening to their child read at home.
For more information or to make a tax-deductible charitable donation directly benefitting the Butler Elementary book giveaway, contact Kelly.Layman@barbarabush.org