For 20 years, KidsRead USA Has Placed New Books into Hands of Kids
KidsRead USA, an Arizona-based early childhood literacy nonprofit organization, celebrated its 20th anniversary Sept. 22 at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. More than 100 donors, guest readers, school officials and sponsors along with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton attended the luncheon event.
KidsRead was founded in 1996 by Valley author-journalist Eileen Bailey after learning that many children in her historic Phoenix neighborhood had no books at home. “We started at one school with a budget of $3,500 provided by Scottsdale philanthropist Kax Herberger and La Jolla resident Audrey Geisel, the widow of Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel,” Bailey said.
Today, KidsRead has grown to include seven schools and has given away 50,000 new books to thousands of third graders in the Balsz and Osborn School districts. Each of the 720 third graders has received seven new books during the school year.
“KidsRead knows how critical literacy is to the development of young students,” Stanton said. “Here’s the story: Literacy is the single most important factor for future success. Kids who don’t read don’t grow.”
Stanton went on to praise Bailey for her contribution. “In what must be an all-hands-on-deck effort, Eileen Bailey and her organization, KidsRead USA, serves as the example of rolling up our sleeves and stepping up for our kids,” Stanton said.
PHOTOS BY ELENA THORNTON
