Good Times at Greenway Park

The kids do something like a wave when Wilson tells them the good news: spreading out from the center of the flock, the kids of Greenway Park Elementary leap to their feet and at the news that Promising Pages has a present, a book for each of them just days before summer vacation. It might be the most important gift during the entire span of their elementary education, or perhaps all of their education. It’s a book for themselves, that they can treasure and read over and over again, helping keep their young minds active and exploring stories and words until August comes around.

The Magic Book Party at Greenway Park Elementary was the largest event in Promising Pages history, serving approximately 600 kids, grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Because of the size, we divided the school and held two Magic Book Parties, one for first, second, and third grade, and another for kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grades. Intern Mitchell Sharp had the privilege of playing Erm the Bookworm for the second Magic Book Party, his first time doing so. Excited about the opportunity, he noted how excited the kids were, how well-behaved they acted, and how enthusiastic the teachers and other volunteers, from St. Stevens United Methodist Church, were to participate. Kids danced as they waited for their books, compared their gifts to one another, read their new presents, and looked up to Erm with a crowd of smiles, all their white teeth shining like flashbulbs, their energy barely contained, some practically bursting with wanting to cartwheel across the floor in excitement. 

It’s exciting for all of us to see kids more excited for books than summer vacation. At Promising Pages, we try to make every book special for every kid, because it really is their magic book, the book that might bring them back to being interested in reading and changing the entire course of their education. One little girl was given a book on her favorite subject: unicorns. From the excitement she showed, the smile that spread across her face and took it over, we know she will take that book home to her parents, or brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles. She’ll want to read it to them, have it read to her, cherish it and use it to improve her reading. And lots of students from Greenway Park will have the same experience, the same desire and enthusiasm.

Donating six hundred books is a lot, and Promising Pages wants to thank all of our donors and supporters. Without your help, this party would have never been able to happen, and the kids of Greenway Park would never have been able to get their presents. With your support, we’ve been able to do so much, and will be able to do so much more. We’d also like to thank Fox News Rising and Wilson for coming out and hyping up the crowd and covering our event, and the volunteers from St. Stevens United Methodist Church. But most of all, we’d like to thank the kids of Greenway Park Elementary for letting us have such an awesome time and share the magic of their Magic Book Party.

Wilson's World Video and Article 

Fox Charlotte Rising