Reach Out and Read-South Carolina held its second annual Read and Romp Family Benefit Event on Sunday, October 1st 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. More than 150 children participated in the event, and proceeds raised more than $17,000 to support the ROR program in South Carolina. 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 the musical and theatrical entertainment of the Chapin Onstage Performers, performances by Village Rhythm West African Drumming Group and Double Dutch Forces, face painting, guest book characters, arts and crafts, and much, much more! Story book booths carried children through the adventures of Harry Potter, Where the Wild Things Are, Olivia Save the Circus, and many more favorites. Children were able to visit with their favorite characters such as Cocky, Maisy, and Madeline. 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. Verizon, a community champion and supporter of literacy programs, was the presenting sponsor for the Read and Romp event for the second year. Verizon has been a committed supporter of the Reach Out and Read program, and we are extremely grateful for their continued leadership and support. Other sponsors included Citadel Broadcasting, Select Health of South Carolina, Hill Rom, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Scholastic, Inc., Palmetto Health, Langdon and Perry, Trehel, Target, and Cold Stone Creamery. We would like to thank the corporate sponsors as well as all the other sponsors at the event. There were more than 100 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 third annual event in 2007. If you are interested in learning more about Reach Out and Read or if you would like to help with the event in 2007, please contact the ROR-SC state office at: 803-434-2523 or email us! View more pictures of the 2006 event!

On August 23, ROR-SC welcomed Congressman John Spratt at Rock Hill Pediatrics to say thank you for his committed support of the Reach Out and Read program. Congressman Spratt has been a dedicated leader in Washington for the ROR program for several years. SC Representative Herb Kirsh joined Congressman Spratt for this event. Dr. Perri Klass, Medical Director of the ROR National Program, joined ROR-SC in thanking Congressman Spratt for his dedication and leadership "I am proud of my involvement with the Reach Out and Read program and, through talking with physicians, nurses, and other program volunteers, I know that the movement is working and gaining momentum,” says Congressman Spratt.  “A great deal of evidence indicates that when children are exposed to books at an early age, they acquire language skills faster and more completely than they otherwise would.  Learning to love and appreciate books early on means that children are more likely to learn to read on schedule and thus become more successful students.” The Congressman has led the way to build support for Reach Out and Read among his colleagues in the House and to secure federal funding for the program. Congressman Spratt’s 5th District has the fifth highest number of Reach Out and Read sites in the U.S. 

We would also like to thank Congressman Gresham Barrett and Congressman Joe Wilson for joining us at ROR sites as special guest readers during the August recess. Congressmen Wilson and Barrett continue to be strong supporters of the ROR program in Washington, and we are grateful for their leadership. Local champions Senator Hugh Leatherman and Senator John Land also visited ROR sites as special guests, sharing their dedication to early literacy and their support of ROR with children.

  
On Tuesday, May 16, 2006 the Reach Out and Read-SC Reach Out and Read-SC presented State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum with the 2006 Literacy Advocate Award in honor of her dedication to the children of South Carolina and the strides she has made to support literacy in the state. Each year Reach Out and Read-SC honors a champion for their efforts to improve the literacy outlook for children across the state. These literacy champions are leaders in the movement to help South Carolina’s children enter school ready for reading success. We are pleased to honor Superintendent Tenenbaum for her efforts to help children grow up with a love of reading. The Reach Out and Read program makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric care so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. Reach Out and Read trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age. A special focus is placed on children growing up in poverty. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities cultivate early literacy skills so that children enter school prepared to succeed at reading. Reach Out and Read-SC has been serving children across South Carolina since 1998 and today serves more than 85,000 children with more than 135,000 books annually in over 100 primary care setting across the state. The program is expanding each year and seeks to reach all children in South Carolina with the evidence-based and research proven ROR model. We congratulate Superintendent Tenenbaum for receipt of this award.