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Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® (RFTR) is a national campaign that was launched over a decade ago to address the educational inequities that leave too many children unprepared for kindergarten. On Thursday, October 27, 2016, millions of children and adults will gather to learn, laugh, and read this year’s campaign book, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach, as part of the world’s largest shared reading experience.
Read for the Record inspires adults to read with children, spurs policymakers and organizations to take action towards transformative change in early education, and puts books in the hands of more children across the country. How can you RFTR?
On October 27th, volunteers will gather on University of Pittsburgh's campus for the Volunteer Kick-off before being transported to local pre-school classrooms. Volunteers will be placed on teams of 3-4 and host a Classroom Literacy Celebration in one pre-school classroom. Each Classroom Literacy Celebration will consist of a book reading, literacy games and activities. At the end of the celebration, each child will receive a book and packet of activities to take home and share with his/her family.
In addition, at Crescent Early Childhood Center and Hosanna House Child Development Center, children will gather in their respective schools for large school-wide group readings, celebrations and activities with our Special Guest Readers. Usually directly engaging approximately 300 children, this year, Jumpstart Pittsburgh hopes to reach 50+ classrooms and engage 2000+ children throughout the city of Pittsburgh and Southwestern PA!
Donate Here! Donate through our EngagePitt™ site. Your donation will go a long way towards providing material & logistical support for Read for the Record. On the day of Read for the Record, we will need buses to transport the volunteers, supplies to hold our Volunteer Kick-off, and materials to provide rich and meaningful opportunities during our Classroom Literacy Celebrations!
Volunteer! Sign up to be a volunteer on the day of Read for the Record. We are recruiting between 150-200 volunteers and are excited to engage Pitt students, staff, alumni and community members all at once! Pitt students & staff please visit volunteer.pitt.edu and search Read for the Record to volunteer. Alumni & non-Pitt affiliates please email Thomas Bryant at thb16@pitt.edu if you are interested in volunteering!
Spread the word! Every person matters. Each person who sees our campaign is a potential volunteer, donor or Read for the Record participant. Spread the word and help us reach as many people as possible. Make Southwestern PA the largest Read for the Record celebration in the country.
Participate! Get a book and read! Read The Bear ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach on October 27th and let us know how many children read with you.
Jumpstart is a national early education organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.
Questions? Email Thomas at thb16@pitt.edu.
Congratulations! You can read site words like a professional. With your donation, we can purchase materials to hold a celebration in one pre-school classroom.
Congratulations, you finished your first chapter book! Your donation will provide materials for 5 literacy celebrations and directly serve 100 children on our way to 2000 children.
You are now a proficient reader and regularly visit the local library! Your donation will sponsor 10 classrooms with activities and materials.
You are a local celebrity and reading extraordinaire. Your donation will bring activities and materials to over 25 classrooms!
You've reached celebrity status. Use your reach to help children get involved and love reading! Your donation will sponsor a large scale event for over 200 pre-school children.
Congratulations, you are the keeper of books! You have gone from an avid reader to an avid book provider! Your donation will transport 150 volunteers to 50 pre-school classrooms across Pittsburgh.