by Amy Worthington
Volunteer Events and Training Coordinator
Earlier this month five elementary school hallways were filled with the sounds of tongue-twisting riddles, as 118 volunteers wearing striped hats, “who” hairstyles, and Grinch costumes, read from a variety of Seuss’s beloved works.
Volunteers came out as a part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative. Organized by United Way of Salt Lake, volunteers came from JCPenney, CHG Healthcare, United Way of Salt Lake’s Leadership Circle, and other companies, to spend a portion of their morning reading with students to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday.
The Dr. Seuss Day celebration is designed to encourage students to find the fun in reading. This message is especially important to the students who were involved in the day’s activities. Nearly all students at each of the schools face some sort of economic or language barrier, which create additional academic challenges for them to overcome.
We are grateful for the generosity of these volunteers who donated their time, as well as the donations of Dr. Seuss books, pencils, and a variety of other support for the Seuss themed activities! It was a great reminder of what it means to LIVE UNITED!
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Reading is an essential part of every child’s development! If you’re interested in becoming an ongoing reading volunteer as a part of the Read. Graduate. Succeed. program please visit our website or contact our Volunteer Center at volunteercenter@uw.org.
