New Milford Area Rotary Supports United Way’s Real Men Read Program
From left: Brian Lione, New Milford Area Rotary Club Foundation Chair and Real Men Read volunteer, Dave Palmer, New Milford Area Rotary Member and Real Men Read volunteer, Tom Kurosky, New Milford Area Rotary Club President
The New Milford Area Rotary Club has generously supported United Way of Susquehanna County’s (UWSC) Real Men Read signature program, which has allowed the program to expand to the Susquehanna Community School District.
Real Men Read connects volunteer male readers, MENtors from the community with kindergarten classes in schools to encourage reading and learning in young children and boost early grade reading success. MENtors commit to reading to a kindergarten class, are trained to interact, lead the children in discovery, and undergo a security clearance to participate in the program. Each kindergarten student receives a copy of the book read each month to add to their home library. The program is currently running virtually to accommodate schools, with students still receiving a book each month the program runs.
Why MENtors? With 81% of children under the age of 5 living in economically at-risk situations coupled with an increase in female-led single-parent households in Susquehanna County, UWSC determined that this was a worthwhile program. Typically, teachers are female, and so many children do not have a male mentor/positive influencer in their lives, promoting the importance of literacy. Real Men Read helps these children to see men valuing education and reading.
This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to have a positive role model who values education and encourages the love of reading. From K-3rd grade, students are learning to read, and from 3rd grade on, students need to be able to read to learn. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma than proficient readers.
We can prepare our kids for a lifetime of success in reading and learning by merely sharing books, encouraging literacy skills, and model the importance of reading.
“The New Milford Area Rotary Club is pleased to partner with UWSC and support this important program. We recognize the importance of children having positive role models to encourage the love of reading and the value of children having books in their homes,” said Tom Kurosky, New Milford Area Rotary Club President.
Thanks to community partners such as The Endless Mountains Health Systems, Frank Roia Scholarship Fund, and Visions Federal Credit Union. The New Milford Area Rotary Club is able to support such programs in the community. These gifts along with New Milford Area Rotary’s contribution provided a total investment of $2,000.00.
Real Men Read MENtor, Dave Palmer reading The Biggest Pumpkin Ever.
“As a result of this generous support, UWSC has been able to continue serving other districts in the county with the Real Men Read program while expanding this program to Susquehanna Community School District this year,” said Robin Cobb, Director of Operations at UWSC.
United Way’s goal is to expand the Real Men Read program to all six districts as funding and volunteer support permits.
For more information about the United Way of Susquehanna County, visit their website at unitedwayofsusquehanancounty.org or learn more about New Milford Area Rotary, visit their Facebook page.