Finally, Charlotte’s cool and colorful Fall seems to be right around the corner. At Promising Pages, we are also fully aware of the changing time of year as we say farewell to an incredibly productive summer and hello to an already jam packed fall! However, it would not be right to leave summer behind without recognizing the amazing team that made it all possible.
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| Team Read 2013! |
Starting in June, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation sponsored “Team Read 2013,” a group of 45 high school interns from 18 high schools across Charlotte. Throughout the summer this bright and energetic group of students hosted 120 literacy projects with community partners (Book Buddies with Male Leadership Academy, Crisis Assistance, Magic Book Parties with Y Readers and Freedom Schools, Back to School Bashes) as well as keeping the Warehouse in working order through sorting, cleaning, labeling and wrapping over 20,000 Books!
They prepped and hosted volunteers at our events in June and then marketed and staffed our Summer Book Sale in August. Even on their own time they kept up the hard work through serving on committees to further develop Promising Pages through social media, fundraising, holding neighborhood book drives, and simply generating ideas that will make a lasting impact on our organization.
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| One of 120 literacy events! |
While our interns were teaching children how to love books, they were also learning. They were trained by UNCC literacy experts on how to encourage and read effectively with children, how to work as a team on projects that took patience and endurance, and how to set goals knowing that the only way to grow is to try.
By mid August, just before our friends headed back to the classroom, we recognized them at a yummy awards dinner where we highlighted the achievements of our star interns. We proudly announced to the whole Team Read that they helped to bring in a total of 12,390 books to the Warehouse while, through requests from our community partners, we were able to see over 20,000 books leave our Warehouse and enter the hands of children.
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| End of the Summer Celebration |
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation Team Read 2013 became the hands and feet of our organization this summer, quite literally. But they also became the heart behind our organization. There was so much joy in getting to see them love their work, whether it was making friends with little ones at Crisis Assistance Ministry, having one on one reading time with kids at Book Parties, or simply bringing a smile to a student’s face by giving them a wrapped book. I can guarantee that there are children in Charlotte who will not forget their experience with a Team Read Member and have a greater love for reading because of it. We are sad to see them return to school but it is a privilege to know we had some of the most creative, passionate, and dedicated young leaders working with us this summer.
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| Working hard at the Warehouse! |
We are so grateful for the time each one of them dedicated to this internship- with a combined total of 2,808 hours put in to Promising Pages projects! Team Read 2013 was such a success, they are featured in the Editor's Letter of the August issue of Society Charlotte Magazine. Society highlights some great pics of our Intern Orientation here: Society Magazine Editor's Letter
After taking a small “summer break” the past few weeks, everyone at at Promising Pages is re-energized and geared up for an exciting fall. We are welcoming aboard new interns and volunteer staff, expanding our Book Party programming to new elementary school partners, and prepping for our Fall Book Sale are only a few of the big things already in the works. We truly appreciate all of the hard work, donations, and good thoughts constantly sent our way from interns, volunteers, and the community. It is uplifting and encouraging and there are so many more fuller bookshelves and smiling faces in Charlotte because of it. Happy Fall!
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| Erma the Bookworm with new friends at Crisis Assistance! |
