Reading is
Doctor-Recommended

Reach Out and Read South Carolina is part of the nationwide Reach Out and Read organization.

Reach Out and Read Aids Literacy

Link to story
Post and Courier - Charleston, SC
Letters to the Editor
Monday, November 23, 2009

A a member of the board of Reach Out and Read-S.C., I must respond to the column by Brian Hicks regarding reading. The medical profession, working through this organization, is making reading to young children an integral part of their medical visits. Parents of young children can help them enter school more prepared for literacy success by doing one simple thing -- reading to their children every day. That small daily act can help overcome the daunting challenge presented by 35 percent of American children arriving for kindergarten unprepared. Less than half -- 47.2 percent -- of S.C. children five and under are read to daily. That's more than 155,000 kids under five going to bed every night in our state without a bedtime story. Reading to young children has been proved to be the single most important thing parents can do to ensure their children's success in school. Scientific studies have shown that parents who get books and literacy counseling from their health care providers are more likely to read to their young children, read to them more often and provide more books in the home. Through the Reach Out and Read early childhood literacy program, local doctors in South Carolina will give 180,000 books to more than 98,000 of their youngest patients at check-ups this year and advise their parents about the importance of reading, giving them a "prescription to read." ROR now serves more than 30 percent of all kids in South Carolina and more than 60 percent of children living at or near poverty. Reach Out and Read focuses on children at greatest risk -- children aged six months to five years living at or near poverty. Doctors distribute carefully selected, new, developmentally and culturally appropriate books starting with board books for babies and moving on to more complex picture books for preschoolers. By utilizing the health care system to deliver books and literacy counseling, we can help ensure that parents read to their children every day and that every child enters school ready to learn. Let's all do our part by reading to our children daily. Please get involved with Reach Out and Read-S.C. and support our efforts to help children in South Carolina enter school ready for success -- reachoutandreadsc.org.

H.B. OTHERSEN, Jr., M.D.

Read and Romp 2009

Reach Out and Read-South Carolina held its fifth annual Read and Romp Family Benefit Event on Sunday, October 11th at the South Carolina State Museum. The event was a fun time for children and families to come together and spend the afternoon traveling through the adventures of their favorite children's books. The afternoon was a great success, and brought families together to enjoy books and celebrate literacy. Nearly 250 children participated in the event, and proceeds raised more than $10,000 to support the ROR program in South Carolina. All proceeds will be used to purchase books for our programs throughout the state.

True to the mission of Reach Out and Read, the Read and Romp event demonstrated to families the fun and enjoyment that books bring. At Read and Romp, children were engaged in fun, learning-based activities themed around favorite children's books. In addition to the 12 interactive story book stations there was a sketch artist, a marionette dog, face painting, cotton candy, and much, much more! Story book booths carried children through the adventures of The Hungry Caterpillar, Are You My Mother, Mouse Paint and many more favorites.

Children were able to visit with their favorite local characters - Cocky and Richie the Raccoon. The event owes it success to wonderful champions of the Reach Out and Read-SC program as well as to the many volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible.

There were more than 75 volunteers involved at the event, and their help and commitment made the event possible. Children and parents had a wonderful time and we look forward to our sixth annual event in 2010. If you are interested in learning more about Reach Out and Read or if you would like to help with the event in 2010, please contact the ROR-SC state office at: 803-434-2523, email contact@reachoutandreadsc.org or visit www.reachoutandreadsc.org.

View pictures of the event!

Chapter Sponsors

Title Page Sponsors


American Academy of Pediatrics - SC Chapter

Bookmark Sponsors


ROR-SC Wins 2009 Literacy Leaders Award

Reach Out and Read - SC was one of three recipients of the 2009 Literacy Leaders Awards. The award ceremony was held on September 15, 2009 in Columbia, SC at the State Library. The Literacy Leaders Awards were created as part of the School of Library and Information Science's Children, Libraries and Literacy Initiative, a $6 million campaign launched in 2005 to eliminate illiteracy across South Carolina. Reach Out and Read is very honored to be included in this group being recognized and is excited to continue their work with children throughout the state!

Congressman Joe Wilson Visits Reach Out and Read

Thank you very much to Congressman Joe Wilson for visiting with Read Out and Read - SC at the Children's Hospital Outpatient Center at Palmetto Health in Columbia SC. We very much enjoyed the visit on August 20th and look forward to seeing Congressman Wilson again soon! Please check out the rest of the pictures from the visit...pictures...

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