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Brad and Julie Rubini established Claire's Day in 2001 in honor of their late daughter Claire Lynsey Rubini and her passion for reading.
The Claire's Day Story
by Julie K. Rubini
A new friend of mine, after learning about Claire, visited the Claire’s Day website. When I saw her several days later, she offered the most beautiful sentiment about our tribute to our little reader gone too soon.
“I love your story,” she said. “I love how you and your husband chose to honor Claire.”
I thanked her for her kindness. But she wasn’t done yet.
“You didn’t leave Claire behind. You’ve taken her with you,” she said.
Oh, my goodness. With tears in my eyes, I hugged her and held onto her words.
I’ve been reflecting on our loss and the amazing circumstances and individuals who have come into our lives to help raise us up and create Claire’s Day.
One of the most significant was discovering an article on the Texas Book Festival in a Time magazine tucked in my seat pocket on a flight to my niece’s wedding just six months after Claire’s death.
The piece described Former First Lady Laura Bush’s efforts to pay tribute to Texas-born authors, or those who wrote about the Lone Star State. I thought about the many nights reading with the kids and always going to the back flap copy and learning about the writers and artists who created the books. I knew from that practice that we had a wealth of talent in our backyard.
Divine intervention.
With tears in my eyes, I handed Brad the magazine and told him that I’d discovered what we were going to do to honor Claire.
Through the support of a dozen friends and former co-workers, the first Claire’s Day was held on the third Saturday of May 2002, at the Maumee (Ohio) Library. The Claire’s Day committee created the foundation that still holds strong twenty-five years later.
Just like that first event that the team envisioned, we’re still hosting amazingly talented children’s book authors and illustrators. Children can still make book-related crafts. And most of all, children are still being recognized as the most improved readers in their schools. They strut across the stage, get high-fives from their teachers, and receive their coupons to choose a very book of their own written or illustrated by one of our participants.
But what began as a one-day festival honoring 25 children has grown.
Claire’s Day isn’t just a Day anymore.
It’s a month filled with literary experiences! The staff of our parent organization, Read for Literacy, now organizes TWO Claire’s Day book festivals, one at the Main Library in downtown Toledo, and the other at the Maumee Branch. We continue to host traditionally published children’s book authors and illustrators…this year we have 16 special guests between the two festivals.
Over thirty schools now partner with us to bring the magic of an author/illustrator visit to their students in conjunction with Claire’s Day. And those C.A.R.E. Awards? We now honor over 1300 children at the Claire’s Day festivities.
Overall, Claire’s Day impacts over 25,000 children and their families through our programs.
We certainly haven’t left Claire behind.
Our hope is that every person touched by Claire’s story takes a little of her with them too.
Here’s to 25 years of Celebrating Life, Authors, Illustrators and Reading Excellence!
“Claire’s Day is a gentle reminder that every child’s story matters, and by sharing their joy, we help them grow-just as a garden flourishes with kindness and care.” – Will Hillenbrand, author and illustrator
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