Members of our club joined with other Rotarians in Livermore to participate in the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore's Annual Gift of Reading project. Each of the 969 third graders in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District received a new, hardcover literature novel thanks to the generosity of RFL.
This year, in partnership with Towne Center Books, RFL invited students to choose their favorite of three titles selected by 3rd grade teachers and the Elementary Library Specialists. In February, students came to their libraries to learn about the choices and selected either The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom, by Louis Sachar, or The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown.
Read the full press release for more details:
It’s hard to sit still when you’re 8 years old and you know a gift is coming. Livermore third graders managed to contain their excitement long enough to choose and receive a hardcover novel donated by the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore (RFL). Rotarians visited all school libraries in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) this spring to present students with either The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom, by Louis Sachar, or The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown.
Recognizing that success in education is critically linked to fluency in reading, the RFL’s “Gift of Reading” project helps cultivate a love of reading among LVJUSD third graders. Since 2021, RFL, in partnership with Towne Center Books, has invited students to choose their favorite of three titles selected by 3rd grade teachers and the Elementary Library Specialists.
Arroyo Seco Library Specialist Lisa Richards helped coordinate the event with the schools. She praised the Gift of Reading project as “a great opportunity for the students to fall in love with reading!”
Third grade teachers shared comments from students that support the promise of this gift for encouraging reading development. One student exclaimed “I’ve never read for so long at one sitting!” Another shared, “I’ve never read a book without pictures.”
Altamont Creek Library Specialist Rebecca Hanley, who also helped coordinate the project, commented, “I love that Rotary is dedicated to supporting reading and the love of the library.”
Nathan Brumley, Assistant Director of the Livermore Library, told Rotarians that research has shown that students who are fluent readers by the end of third grade are prepared to succeed academically. On the other hand, students who struggle in reading at the end of third grade are set up to struggle academically. During primary years, students learn to read. Once they enter fourth grade, they read to learn. They need that strong foundation of reading skills in order to be successful learners of all subjects.
This year, Livermore Reads Together featured The Wild Robot, one of the students’ options. All Junction Ave third graders received The Wild Robot and participated together with the Livermore Library’s annual program.
Rotarians from both the Livermore and Livermore Valley Clubs shared that this project is a highlight of their community support: “This is my favorite Rotary Service project of the year! I’m so grateful we are able to make a difference for so many kids,” said Philomena Rambo, Livermore Valley Rotarian.
Funding for RFL programs is generated through community donations, Rotary fundraisers, successful investments by the Foundation, and distributions from the two local Rotary Clubs.
For more information about the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore and the Rotary clubs in Livermore, please visit their websites: rotarianfoundationlivermore.org, livermorevalleyrotary.org, and livermore-rotary.org.