Jumpstart, a national early education non-profit organization, today announced that its 2013 Read for the Record campaign has successfully broken the world reading record, surpassing last year’s record of 2.3 million adults and children who participated in 2012.
The campaign, presented in partnership with The Pearson Foundation, is the one day each year when millions of individuals come together to celebrate literacy by breaking the world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day.
On October 3, 2,462,860 adults and children read Otis, by Loren Long. The record-breaking turnout included more than 400,000 record-breakers who read a digital version of the book for free here.
As part of this year’s campaign, Jumpstart, The Pearson Foundation and other partner organizations hosted thousands of Read for the Record events nationwide to set the new world reading record and raise awareness of the importance of high-quality early education. Otis author, Loren Long, read himself in classrooms in New York City and Hoboken, additionally hosting an official reading on Google Hangout for his friends and fans spread far and wide. Actress Tiffani Thiessen also took part – see photos here. These reading events were complimented by individual reading celebrations in classrooms, libraries, offices, and community centers across the United States.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Jumpstart’s 2013 Read for the Record campaign has set a new world reading record,” said Naila Bolus, president and CEO of Jumpstart. “We want to thank our founding and presenting sponsor, The Pearson Foundation, and everyone who took the time to read to a child in their life on October 3. Together, we’ve also raised much-needed awareness of the importance of providing high-quality early childhood education to all children in America.”
“A strong foundation is an essential first step for every child, and Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a powerful way for education leaders, teachers, parents and children to bring awareness to the ongoing early education crisis in America,” said Mark Nieker, president and CEO of The Pearson Foundation. “We join Jumpstart and record breakers everywhere in drawing attention to the important role that Jumpstart plays in the lives of children and celebrating that, for the eighth consecutive year, more people than ever have taken part in this celebration.”
For more information on Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, please visit www.jstart.org/readfortherecord.
