Read USA News

Did you see our News4Jax “Touchdowns for Tomorrow” segment?

Written by Read USA Inc. | Sep 20, 2022 12:47:00 AM

Many thanks to News4Jax for having READ USA’s CEO Rob Kelly on The Morning Show this past weekend! You can watch the segment here:

We have officially kicked off “Touchdowns for Tomorrow,” our partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars and TIAA Bank. For every touchdown the Jacksonville Jaguars score this season, TIAA Bank will donate 100 books to READ USA. The books are distributed to elementary schools during the Jaguars’ Literacy Locker Room events, where Jaguars players read books to elementary students during surprise visits.

We are also looking forward to our first Literacy Locker Room event next week at Normandy Village Elementary, generously sponsored by Whataburger. We look forward to sharing pictures soon!

Thank You, Steve & Diane Halverson

As we get closer to this year’s Peace in the Pages event, we wanted to say THANK YOU to our generous Presenting Sponsors, Steve & Diane Halverson, whose donation has underwritten the entirety of our annual event. Steve & Diana have been ardent supporters of READ USA for years and we could not be more thankful for their ongoing support of our important work.

Peace in the Pages event reminder!

October 7, 2022

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

TIAA Bank Field

Presented by Steve and Diane Halverson

 

Attendance to Peace in the Pages is currently reserved for our generous donors who support READ USA at $1,000 a year or more and their guests. NOW is the time to donate and reserve your seat! Click here to donate now.

 

We Appreciate Our Generous Sponsors!  

READ USA is incredibly grateful for the following individuals and organizations who have generously supported READ USA in our efforts to close the literacy gap in Duval County and beyond!

Founders for the Future

The Baker Family Fund                                              

The Chartrand Family Fund                                       

The Dubow Family Fund                                           

The Edelman Family Fund                                         

Leach, Oberholtzer & Schlesinger families                                          

Michael Ward & Jennifer Glock Foundation                                      

Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund                                         

Ellen & Jim Wiss Family Fund                                   

Sheila and Claude Collier                                            

Tim and Stephanie Cost                                              

Diane and Steve Halverson                                         

VyStar Credit Union              

Literacy Game Changer ($25,000-$49,000)

CSX Foundation                                                                 

Literacy Champion ($15,000-$24,000)

Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF)                                        

Literacy Partner ($10,000-$14,000)

Black Knight                                      

Blue Lagoon Foundation                                

Breeze Homes                                    

C&ES Consultants                                          

David A. Stein Charitable Trust                                              

Lory Doolittle                                     

Florida Blue Foundation                                             

Gunster

Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation

JB Coxwell                                                      

JB Foundation   

Literacy Advocate ($5,000-$9,000)

Comcast          

Gate Petroleum                                              

JM Family Enterprises/Southeast Toyota                               

Marand Builders/Marand Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. David C. Miller                                     

PGA Tour

Mr. and Mrs. Brent L. Trager                          

Dori Walton                                              

Literacy Angel ($1,000-$4,000)

Kevin and Fay Blake                                       

Aimee Boggs                                      

Brooks Rehabilitation                                     

Sheila and Claude Collier                                            

Community First Credit Union

The Community Foundation                                      

Cindy and Scott Cooper          

Danis Construction                                        

Dorothy Dorion         

Spence and Nancy Edwards                                        

Preston Haskell                                               

Lori Hershey                                       

Carrie A. King & Christina N. Wirth                                      

Charlene Landen                                             

Gregory Matovina                                          

Matthew A. Minnick   

Pajcic & Pajcic                                    

Deirdra M. Robinson                                      

Mr. and Mrs. Gary D. Silverfield                                            

Terracon Consultants

Tom Bush Regency Motors    

Unitarian Universalist Church

Ms. Linda W. Watkins                                    

 

Please join us in saying THANK YOU to these fabulous individuals and organizations who are making a difference in our community!


 

by Katherine Applegate

Children’s Book: Odder

This is a sweet story about an Otter named... “Odder.” Odder lives off the coast of central California, near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Curious humans watch her playfulness, tricks, and quirky moves. She puts on a show with sea urchins, twists, dives, and quick turns. One day, Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark. Soon, Odder begins to question everything she’s known about life, about herself, and even about the humans who work to save her.

Giving a nod to and inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that “pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers,” this adorable and poignant tale helps readers discover the true hero’s journey from euphoria, to abyss, then bravery, healing, and finally self-discovery and awareness. As a gift, our beloved author Katherine Applegate tells the tale in lyrical free verse.

Odder is ready to win your heart and help you discover your own value.

Submitted by Tabetha Cox, Tutoring Program Director

Education Corner:

Genres and Formats

Growing readers need options from a full range of genres and formats to capture their interest, build their background knowledge, and to show that reading is not only educational, but can also be enjoyable! In the book, “From Striving to Thriving,” by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward, the authors share the potpourri of genres available to readers. 

Nonfiction shows us the world is endlessly fascinating!

Series books like Baby-Sitters Club, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Little House on the Prairie, Piggy and Elephant, and so many others become friends that provide predictable entertainment and adventure.

Graphic novels appeal to our most reluctant readers while offering full-length texts, unlike their predecessors, comic books. 

Poetry has the power to capture striving readers’ ears. Look for playful poetry from Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein.

Wordless picture books draw us into a world where anyone can successfully read a fantastic story.

Coffee Table books invite readers to explore a topic visually while building reading skills. The possibilities are endless: space, castles, history, and much more.

History, mystery, fables and folk tales! Adventure awaits as your reader explores a wide variety of genres while building their background knowledge and exercising their reading muscles!