RORRI
Vol. 6, Issue 4
October, 2016
In This Issue
From the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

My youngest daughter, Posey, is now 11. She'd like me to believe she's not interested in picture books. But at this time of year, with the hustle and bustle of back to school, she will let me pull out an old family favorite, The Little Yellow Leaf  by Carin Berger . It's a story about a leaf who needs to find courage to let go of the branch from which he hangs. As the air cools, the sun lowers, and his friends fall around him, he says, "I'm not ready yet." 

Taking a leap into the unknown can be as exciting as it can be daunting. That is what we are learning here at Reach Out and Read RI. In this newsletter, you will read all about our recent expansion efforts. With some key collaborators and a renewed understanding and commitment to early literacy statewide, RI physicians are lining up to prepare their young patients for school and offer opportunities to strengthen the parent-child bond. We know that books are an important ingredient for both school readiness and social-emotional well-being.

Growth doesn't come easy! Fundraising becomes even more imperative, our staff is working around the clock, books are ordered and delivered, ordered and delivered....and we couldn't be more thrilled. Our goal to reach every child in RI under the age of 5 with this low cost, highly effective intervention appears on the horizon.

I don't want to give away the ending to the book but...the yellow leaf finally screws up his courage and lets go of the branch. It's a leap of faith, with a happy ending.

Happy Reading, 




PS: I'm thrilled to welcome Katherine Glendinning  & Sandra Krupp , MSW to the Reach Out and Read RI Board. I know that they'll help us accomplish great things in support of our mission - preparing RI children for success in school.
Mark Your Calendars
  • A shopping event to benefit Reach Out and Read RI will be held @ Homestyle (229 Westminster St. Providence) on December 8th from 6 - 9 pm. 25% of sales will be donated to Reach Out and Read RI. You can also shop anytime on Dec. 8th, and mention RORRI to make your purchase count!
  • Stay tuned for details of Reach Out and Read RI's 2017 Annual Gala, scheduled for May 4th.
Reach Out and Read RI Adds Sites & Reaches More RI Children

We are thrilled to welcome the following  new Reach Out and Read RI sites. With these 14 sites we have been able to expand our reach to an additional 5,400 Rhode Island children each year!
"Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies" Project Launches - A Blue Cross Blue Shield RI & Reach Out and Read RI Collaboration

Beth Toolan MD and Marileni Espinal, MA receive their copies of 
Munch! Crunch! Snacks and Lunch 
to distribute to 2 year old patients at Capitol Hill Health Center this year.

Thanks to a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI , all 2 year old patients seen at Community Health Centers between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, will receive a copy of the book  Munch! Crunch! Snacks and Lunch  by Anna W. Bardaus and a specially designed bookmark containing helpful tips about nutrition, exercise and reading.

This project enhances Reach Out and Read's  proven school readiness model by adding an important healthy eating, and active lifestyle, component. The goal of Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies is to help children in low-income families build positive habits around reading, eating, and physical activity during a critical development period.  
Reach Out and Read RI & Delta Dental Join Forces for Early Literacy and Oral Health 

Delta Dental of RI (DDRI) and  Reach Out and Read RI  partnered this fall to encourage early literacy and healthy dental habits. A $10,000 grant from Delta Dental of Rhode Island Fund allowed for 2,500 oral health-themed children's books to be delivered to community health centers and pediatric offices across the state. Children ages one to five who had a well visit at one of these sites in September, received a copy of the classic book  Maisy, Charley, and the Wobbly Tooth  by Lucy Cousins.

Patients at Blackstone Valley Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, happy to recieve their new books!
Dr. Fuentes at Santiago Medical Group, giving a copy of the book to one of his young patients!

"Our partnership with Reach Out and Read RI  supports our mission to improve the oral health and well-being of all Rhode Islanders, including our state's youngest citizens," said Joseph A. Nagle , president and CEO of Delta Dental of Rhode Island. "Not only do these books boost early literacy skills by encouraging families to read aloud to their kids, the story itself introduces the importance of oral health care in a fun way. We thank the physicians who are helping us spread the message that oral health is important to overall health." 

Pediatricians are trusted messengers for families of young children on a variety of issues, including oral health and we are thrilled to partner with Delta Dental on this  jo int early literacy/early oral health initiative!
Reach Out and Read RI Receives a CVS Community Heroes Grant & Recognition at PawSox Game


Sox, Lila Neel, Program Manager, Susanna Beckwith, Executive Director & Paws

Bob's Discount Furniture & Reach Out and Read RI Team Up for Reading Event at Hasbro Children's Hospital

Reach Out and Read Rhode Island  and Bob's Discount Furniture  teamed up this summer for a story-time event at Hasbro Children's Hospital . Cathy Poulin, Director of Outreach and Public Relations for Bob's, read  Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good For You!  by Tish Rabe  to patients in Hasbro's Outpatient Department. Thank you Cathy, for dressing up as everyone's favorite, The Cat in the Hat!

Cathy Poulin, Director of Outreach and Public Relations, Bob's Discount Furniture, surrounded by children at the Hasbro reading event

As part of their commitment to pediatric literacy, Bob's Discount Furniture donated  100 copies of  Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good for You !, 100 Cat in the Hat character hats, and 100 Bob's Discount Furniture blankets. The team at Bob's also generously donated $1,000 for new waiting room furniture. This event was part of Bob's Discount Furniture's year-long "Rocking the Road to Read" initiative which promotes pediatric literacy by donating books, and bringing fun events to children's hospitals and clinics. We cannot thank Bob's enough for their kindness!
Reach Out and Read RI
One Richmond Square, Ste 158E
Providence, RI 02906
401.331.1967
susanna@rorri.org
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