Dear Friends: Learning to read is one of the most important steps in a child's life, laying the vital foundation for future knowledge and education. Research proves shared book reading and access to books in the home during a child's first, formative years are the strongest predictors of early literacy skills. At Link to Libraries, this is the focus of our programs. Our organization has created a way to encourage people to get involved, read to children, and recognize reading proficiency is key to a child's future. We want proficient readers by grade 3 or 4. We want our boys and girls to be the best they can. We believe that Link to Libraries is doing that work, but it is never enough. We hope you will take a look at our website at
www.linktolibraries.org. It offers information, insights and advice on how to be an effective advocate and volunteer. We ho pe your visit to our website marks just the beginning of your long and rewarding relationship with our organization. We look to you - our friends, supporters, neighbors and educators to help guide us in our work. Let us hear from you. Enjoy the spring and all New England offers us!
Sincerely,
Susan Jaye-Kaplan
Link to Libraries, Inc.
President & Co-founder
|
|
|
Announcing our Newest Program:
"Books for Babies"
With a generous two-year grant from Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Link to Libraries is launching the "Books for Babies" program for newborns at Franklin Medical Center set to begin this June. The program will provide the hospital with a tote bag filled with a board book, information about Link to Libraries, parent educational materials from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, and a nutrition and healthy lifestyle pamphlet prepared by Big Y nutritionist, Carrie Taylor. All newborns will receive the tote at the time of discharge from the hospital. Many thanks are in order to Baystate Franklin Medical Center President and Link to Libraries Celebrity Reader, Steven F. Bradley.
Margot Woodworth is the new program Project Director. She has been a volunteer with Link to Libraries for the past three years and is excited to oversee this new program. She notes, "The totes offer an inviting package for new parents and their baby with a message and a mission - promoting early literacy for all newborns and their families."
|
|
|
Volunteers assemble and pack the "Books for Babies" totes.
|
|
|
|
|
Steven F. Bradley,President, Baystate Health Northern Region & Baystate Franklin Medical Center, and a dedicated LTL Celebrity Reader
|
|
|
|
Business Book Link
Thanks to Our Renewing Sponsors
Meyers Brothers Kalicka
Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law
Pride Stores
Sumner Pediatrics
Insurance Center of New England
Paragus Strategic IT
Monson Savings Bank
Dana Barrows
Adams Market
Trudeau Family
James Vinick
Valley Women's Health Group
FieldEddy Insurance
New England Dermatology and Laser Center
We Welcome Our Newest Sponsors:
Attorney Amy Royal, Northampton and Springfield offices, at Dunbar Community Center, Springfield
|
|
Celebrity Readers
Welcome to Our Newest Celebrity Readers:
Janice Mazzola, Director of Human Resources, PeoplesBank at the Bowie School in Chicopee
Maura McCaffrey, President and CEO, Health New England at the Kensington School, Springfield
Tema Silk, Commentary Producer, WFCR at the Glenwood School, Springfield
|
A wonderful morning at Kensington School, Springfield with (L to R):
Gayle Rediker, Rediker Software, Yvonne Williams, United Way of
Pioneer Valley,
and Maura McCaffrey, Health New England
|
|
State Senator
(and Celebrity Reader)
Eric Lesser
|
|
|
|
Monthly Readers
Welcome to Our Newest Monthly Readers: John Shreck, Director of Marketing, Rediker Software Dora Robinson, President and CEO, United Way of Pioneer Valley Rachel Voci, Log Cabin and Delaney House Martin Baicker, President and CEO, Jewish Geriatric Services Big Y Foods Alissa Korn, Amy Cohen and Carol Tivoli
|
|
|
Lynn Weiner, Read Aloud Educator, Advisory Committee member and Warehouse Supervisor/Manager, keeps our readers stocked with great books
|
NEW! READERS WORKSHOP Date: October 8, 2015 Time: 7:30 am breakfast Place: Link to Libraries Warehouse 2 Wilbraham Road,
Hampden, MA 01036 RSVP by October 1, 2015 to [email protected] New book review: new and
experienced readers welcomed. |
|
RAP (Reading Any Place for Homeless Youth)
Wonderful news for the boys and girls who receive new books from Link to Libraries RAP- Reading Any Place for Homeless Youth program.
We have been approved for a grant from Hasbro for 1,000 new toys to go with the tote bags, books and bookmarks we distribute to area boys and girls (some 2,100 children) in six cities of Western MA. Most of the children reside in Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, Westfield, Greenfield and West Springfield. This program has been on-going for 4 years now under the able leadership of Project Director, Gail Baquis.
We are honored by the support of Hasbro and for their caring for our children. Thank you for your continued support.
|
|
Highlight on LTL Grants
The Sullivan Elementary School in Holyoke received a $600 literacy grant from Link to Libraries in the fall of 2014. They used the grant to pay for the Springfield Museum's The ABC's of Dr. Seuss travelling outreach program. The students love this interactive program designed to introduce key literacy skills and vocabulary through study, rhyming, play learning, art activities and much more.
|
|
Gail Baquis is Honored
Fifteen women, including Gail Baquis, Project Director for the Celebrity and Monthly Read Aloud programs and the RAP program, were named area Ambassadors for the American Heart Association's annual Go Red For Women campaign.
A promotional poster of the women, who were nominated as ambassadors against heart disease in women, was unveiled at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
|
|
|
|
Gail Baquis with her husband,
Dr. George Baquis
|
|
| 
|
Mary Ann Burns, the association's regional director of the American Heart Association called the Go Red Leading Ladies "role models" and said, in a release, they were selected for knowing the "importance of good heart health." One out of three women will be touched by heart disease. Congratulations, Gail, on this well-deserved honor! |
|
|
Young Volunteers Day:
You're Never Too Young
A group of seven youngsters donated their time on Martin Luther King Day to help Link to Libraries label books for distribution to children in Western Massachusetts.
The young volunteers, ages 3 to 8 from Longmeadow, Wilbraham and Holyoke labeled books to be distributed to school libraries across the region.
|
|
|
A group of young Link to Libraries volunteers, (L to R): Emma Landry, 7, Abby Golden, 4, and Ava Gagnon, 6
|
|
|
Fundraising and Special Events
Paint Sip Funraiser Thanks to Molly Finnegan, Youth Advisor Committee member, for organizing an amazing Paint and Sip event at Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow to benefit Link to Libraries on April 7. Women and children over 12 years enjoyed a fun and creative evening.
|
|
Good News for Link to Libraries
We've received the following awards and grants: $1,500 award from Monson Savings Bank as the winner of their "Votes for Community Service Organizations" contest.
|
|
Roberta Hillenberg-Gang, Newslinks Editor and Executive Board member, accepts a check from
Monson Bank President, Steven E. Lowell |
Newman's Own Grant sponsored by Big Y Foods for RAP - Reading Any Place for Homeless Youth program Service League of Springfield Grant Grant from Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, Springfield for Welcome to Kindergarten program |
|
Our Youth Volunteers
Youth Advisory Volunteers Welcome New Members:
Elena Chechile, Monson; Taylor
DiGiorgio, Monson; Zack and Jake Roulier, Belchertown
Kudos To: Molly Finnegan -Youth Advisory member for a wonderful fundraising event at Elms Country Club with Paint and Sip. Molly is a student at Minnechaug Regional High School and planned this event on her own. Kudos to you, Molly!!! We so appreciate your hard work and energy. Graduates: Ellie Trudeau, Jack Callahan, and Bobby Tremblay from Minnechaug Regional High School; Abby Simons Plumb who will graduate Thornton Burgess Middle School, Hampden; and Madison Robitaille who will graduate Westfield Middle School, Westfield. Special Thanks:
Thanks to our LTL Youth Office Support Team: Lucy Metz, Grace Trudeau, Elena Chechile, Taylor
DiGiorgio and Bobby Tremblay.
.
|
|
|
Many thanks to Rediker Software, Inc. of Hampden, MA for graciously providing us with warehouse space and for the many hours of volunteer service their employees provide to us.
www.rediker.com |
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Links
 
|
|
