1.1 Million Books To Needy Children:
Dr. Perri Klass & Dr. Brian McDonough Celebrate
By Pola Rosen, Ed.D.

Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national literacy program that introduces children as young as six months of age to the world of books through the combined efforts of pediatric providers, educators and volunteer readers, held a benefit event in Manhattan recently. The mission of ROR is to provide books in the hands and homes of every young child. Since 1997, 1,200 pediatricians and other health providers have “prescribed” and given out over 1.1 million books to the neediest children in New York. The pediatricians are passionate about their commitment to counsel parents on the importance of reading to their children and to see that our poorest children grow up owning their very own books. The program also has volunteers who read aloud for a total of 103,000 hours in 71 New York area hospital and clinic waiting rooms. ROR is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The evening was emceed by Dr. Brian McDonough, 1010 WINS radio medical expert. The 2002 ROR Hero Award was presented to publisher Houghton Mifflin, a division of Vivendi Universal, by Dr. Perri Klass, noted author and Medical Director of ROR National Office. Accepting was Jane Lecompte for Nader Darehshori, Chairman of Houghton Mifflin. Dr. Klass, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine summed up her sentiments about Reach Out and Read in an email from Boston. It makes a “tremendous difference to me in the exam room. I find that having the book with me changes my whole approach to the child. I love watching my patients take the books, and, according to their ages, chew on them, examine them, name the pictures, turn the pages, giggle at funny images, or erupt into questions. I love helping parents understand and appreciate their children's potential for connecting with books and stories. And I love watching the books go home with the children and knowing that there will be books in the home to read and return to and enjoy.”

Vera B. Williams, author and illustrator, presented the ROR Volunteer of the Year award to Belle Rothberg, retired English professor. Rothberg first volunteered on the pediatric wards at Bellevue while recovering from a broken hip. She started college at the age of 45, and at age 78 she joined the Peace Corps, serving in Poland, her parents’ birthplace.#

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.