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Primrose School of Dunwoody Top Primrose Supporter of Reach Out and Read's Early Literacy Program

Primrose School of Dunwoody Top Primrose Supporter of Reach Out and Read’s Early Literacy Program

The period of birth to five is critical to a child’s future success in school and life.

Atlanta, Georgia (June 16, 2014) –  Primrose School of Dunwoody has been recognized by Reach Out and Read Georgia as the top individual Primrose School supporter in FY14. In support of a challenge grant issued to Reach Out and Read Georgia by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Primrose School of Dunwoody awarded a check in the amount of $8,207.61 to Executive Director, Amy Erickson. The challenge grant was designed to encourage foundations, corporations, and the general public to join in the Georgia Grade Level Reading Campaign.  Earlier this spring, through an annual Book Fair and “Gently Used Book Drive”, the school donated over $1,400.00 in books which helped support several metro Atlanta area sites including Stone Mountain Pediatrics, We Care Pediatrics and Life Cycle Pediatrics.

Steve and Cami Nail are the franchise owners of the Primrose School of Dunwoody. Cami Nail, long time literacy champion, and local Reach Out and Read Georgia Advisory Board member, presented Erickson with the gift made possible through proceeds from their annual Spring Fling fundraiser and other charity events throughout the year. Parents, staff and children at Primrose School of Dunwoody selected Reach Out and Read Georgia as this years’ beneficiary in the spirit of making a difference with impoverished children in Georgia. The Spring Fling fundraisers are annual events designed to heighten awareness among Primrose parents and children about issues and challenges in the world around them.

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Visionary leader, Jo Kirchner, CEO of Primrose Schools, provides direction and innovative leadership to over 260 schools, in 17 states and 40 markets.  The Primrose Children’s Foundation has been a longtime supporter of Reach Out and Read National donating over $1.8M over the past eight years.  Primrose Schools across the nation host a Spring Fling fundraiser annual with 50% of proceeds going to support the work of the Foundation.  In markets where there is on the ground state leadership some of the Primrose Schools select their discretionary 50% amount to support Reach Out and Read state offices, like here in Georgia.

Reach Out and Read Georgia is also supported in part by The James M. Cox Foundation, The United Way of Greater Atlanta, The Arthur M. Blank Foundation, The Zeist Foundation, The Governor’s Office of Children and Families, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, and other early education funders.  Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit school readiness initiative expanding its infrastructure – and school readiness intervention –throughout Georgia and is grateful for the support of all our partners. 

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“We are incredibly grateful to Primrose Schools as a national partner and especially Primrose School of Dunwoody in Georgia for enthusiastically stepping up in support of Reach Out and Read’s early literacy efforts. Heightening awareness about the importance of language and fostering a love of reading and giving back are shared philosophies between our organizations. We are equally committed to improving outcomes for Georgia’s children.”  said Amy Erickson, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Georgia.  

Reach Out and Read’s model includes providing a new, age-appropriate book for each child to take home at every checkup from 6 months through 5 years. Along with the free book for every child, doctors and nurses offer guidance to parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children every day.

Currently, Reach Out and Read Georgia serves over 80,000 children in Georgia via 63 clinical locations in 28 counties, including four military bases: Fort Benning; Fort Stewart; Fort Gordon; and Robins Air Force Base.  Nationwide, Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses serve 4 million children and their families annually at 5,000 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics, and health centers in all 50 states, with a focus on centers that serve low-income communities.   

What distinguishes Reach Out and Read from other interventions is that it has a large and growing evidence base. Since 1991, the Reach Out and Read model has been studied by academic investigators in a variety of settings, providing 15 peer-reviewed research studies on the effects of the program. The body of published research supporting the efficacy of the Reach Out and Read model is more extensive than for any other psychosocial intervention in general pediatrics.

In September, Reach Out and Read was named the 2013 recipient of The Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize for the organization’s groundbreaking work advancing literacy. To learn more about Reach Out and Read, please visit www.reachoutandread.org.  

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