Jumpstart's Read for the Record, presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, will take place in schools, libraries, offices, and homes across the country on October 3, 2013, a day in which millions of young people and adults will come together to read the children’s book Otis.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is an annual reading celebration that highlights the need for quality early education in America by mobilizing adults and children to set a record for the largest shared reading experience.
Jumpstart officially kicked off the event on October 2, by ceremoniously lighting the Empire State Building in “Jumpstart red” with campaign ambassador and star of USA’s White Collar, Tiffani Thiessen. Otis author Loren Long was also in attendance. On October 3rd, Thiessen will also be featured on NBC’s TODAY Show, following which she and Long will head to a Jumpstart preschool in the Lower East Side to read the campaign book with children in attendance.
“As the mother and an avid reader, my hopes for Jumpstart are high. I want every child in America reading every day. Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is another way to raise awareness of the importance of reading and the importance of providing high-quality early education to our children.” said Thiessen. “I hope parents across the country can join me and pledge to read with their children on October 3rd.”
Jumpstart will host several large scale events on October 3 in cities and towns across the country with marquee events in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. In addition, many of our campaign Reading Partners will be hosting events. For example, Gymboree will host events in every Gymboree Retail, Janie & Jack, Crazy 8, and Gymboree Play & Music locations across the country. We Give Books will have Otis available to read online for free in both English and Spanish at www.wegivebooks.org.
“Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a meaningful way for Americans to support the critical need for high-quality early education in our country,” said Jumpstart’s president and CEO, Naila Bolus. “We know that for children living in low-income communities, this need is significant. By the time these children enter kindergarten, they are already 60% behind their more affluent peers. Jumpstart’s Read for the Record brings light to this national issue and gives citizens a platform to voice their support for this cause.”
“A high-quality early education is an essential first step for every child, and Jumpstart ensures that children in the low income communities it serves have the best chance possible to begin school ready to learn,” said Mark Nieker, President and CEO, Pearson Foundation. "Together with Penguin, we are looking forward to our eighth year organizing, supporting and taking part in Read for the Record—and in the process to drawing attention to all Jumpstart does year-around in classrooms across the United States. We’re particularly pleased that Loren Long, who was part of our first Read for the Record celebration in 2006, is such an essential part of this year’s campaign. "
For more information on Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, please contact Joy Errico Seusing at joy.errico@jstart.org or 857.413.4537.
Since the campaign’s inception in 2006, more than nine million people have joined local Jumpstart’s Read for the Record reading celebrations; Jumpstart has raised more than $8 million to support its year-round work in preschools in low-income neighborhoods.
