WCTE Distributed Over 3000 Books to Kids This Summer!
WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS was able to distribute a multitude of free books to Upper Cumberland children this summer, thanks to the local Ready To Learn initiative, Read Up! events, and partnerships with great local organizations. The Children’s Reading Foundation and the Putnam County School System donated nearly 3000 new books to WCTE’s Ready To Learn project. In addition, attendees of WCTE’s Back-to-School Pool Party with Cat in the Hat in July donated over 300 ‘gently loved’ books at the entrance to Gilley Pool in McMinnville. Through all these generous donations, WCTE was able to give books to children at several Ready To Learn/Read Up! events throughout the summer, including the Putnam County Fair, Northside Community Center, various family engagement events at local schools, WCTE’s RTL Back-to-School Pool Party, and Stations of Imagination at Fall FunFest. Books were also donated to area Head Start centers.
All of these Read Up! events were a joint effort of the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Upper Cumberland, Putnam County Schools, and WCTE’s Education and Special Events departments. “We were thrilled to be able to give out so many books to children this summer,” enthused Cindy Putnam, WCTE Ready To Learn Project Manager. “A big part of our Ready To Learn initiative is to encourage children and families to read at least twenty minutes a day. We want parents to know that reading with their children, from the time those children are infants, encourages success in school and fosters lifelong learning.” For more information on WCTE’s education initiatives, visit wcte.org/education.
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Photos attached: L-R: Jodi Pitts, WCTE Special Events coordinator, and Cindy Putman, WCTE and Putnam County Schools Ready To Learn Project Manager, present L.B.J. & C. Head Start Family Engagement Coordinator, Michelle Castle with over 240 books to be used in Head Start classrooms.
WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS
