BHDS IT ROCKS TO READ-A-THON 2011
30,605 Minutes and Counting!
Wow...and we are only on week two. We look forward to the rest of Middle School joining us as they begin reading to local seniors as part of their Read-a-thon participation.
Read More Books, Repair the World
Last year, Brandeis Hillel Day School Marin students read read thousands of pages over hundreds of hours, and raised over $10,000. This incredible effort funded two very special charities, as well as our school library and parent association. Our students’ enthusiasm for reading and Tikkun Olam is a testament to literacy in the truest sense.
Last year’s Read-a-Thon funded the following projects:
Free the Children
The world’s largest network of children helping other children to overcome poverty, Free the Children was started by a 12-year-old boy in 1995. Today, the organization empowers thousands of young people to advocate for and initiate change for other children around the globe. Free the Children projects initiated and led by kids have brought over 650 schools and classrooms to youth and provided clean water, health care and sanitation to one million people around the world. Funds from last year’s read-a-thon helped to build a much needed school in the village of Bagad, India.
Caravan to Class
This project, originated and led by BHDS Marin parent Barry Hoffner, is currently rebuilding a school in Timbuktu, Mali. Funds from last year’s read-a-thon helped to purchase materials for a 3-classroom building and everything from books and teacher salaries to breakfast and lunch.
The BHDS Library
Funds donated to our library continue to help us to purchase new books and host student workshops and author visits from such kids lit luminaries as Michael Chabon, Jonathan Auxier and Elizabeth Singer Hunt.
HOW READ-A-THON WORKS
Visit this Web page often to find regular updates on student progress, Read-a-Thon events, reading recommendations from students and teachers and more. You can find all Read-a-Thon forms here; and students have been given hard copies as well.
A third of this year’s Read-a-Thon funds will support Free the Children and the village of Bagad; a third will support library and information technology needs right here at Brandeis Hillel Day School, Marin; and a third will support the BHDS Parent Association.
As students read to raise funds, they will simultaneously learn about the Bagad and the school we are helping to build there. Most importantly, they will learn about the children living in that village so that we may all put faces to this wonderful Tikkun Olam effort.