RUSSELLVILLE — Reading Is Fundamental and First Book donated more than 2,000 books to Child Development Inc., which serves at-risk children in 13 counties across the state.
“Now more than ever before, the need to provide children access to free books is critical,” states a release from Reading Is Fundamental and First Book. Child Development Inc. has been a Reading Is Fundamental participant for more than a decade and received the donation because of the organization’s excellent record with the project, said Tammie Byrum, education specialist and Reading Is Fundamental coordinator for the agency.
The books are intended to provide children with extra books in addition to the three books given to each child every year. The books were distributed to the agency’s preschool programs, Byrum added.
Child Development Inc. strives to provide reading opportunities to the children it serves through Reading Is Fundamental, First Book, the agency’s lending libraries and daily reading to children by staff, parents and volunteers.
“It has been proven that reading to children makes them better readers,” said Jo Ann Williams, Child Development Inc. executive director/Head Start director. “Reading is the foundation of learning.”
Child Development Inc. provides Head Start, Early Head Start, Arkansas Better Chance, home-based Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start services to families who meet income qualifications. Child Development Inc. serves more than 2,500 children and their families in 13 counties, including Arkansas, Conway, Desha, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Lonoke, Lincoln, Perry, Pope, Polk, Scott and Yell. For more information, visit www.childdevinc.org.
Reading Is Fundamental, founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. For more information and to access reading resources, visit www.rif.org. First Book is a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors in affecting literacy — access to books. For more information, visit www.fbmarketplace.com.