SMART
(Start Making A Reader Today)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The third-grade reading level is widely recognized as a key indicator of a child’s future educational
success; a child who is not meeting this important benchmark is more likely to drop out of high school and
face challenges as an adult. SMART works to ensure that children are meeting this critical benchmark by
providing the two ingredients essential for early literacy skills: shared book reading and the availability of
books.
The SMART program concept is simple: pair an adult volunteer with children for two, one-on-one 30-
minute reading sessions each week during the school year. Volunteers model the joy of reading, while
supporting the child’s efforts to read independently. Throughout the year, SMART students pick out 14 new
books to take home and keep. The intention of SMART is to provide a literacy experience that entices
children into books and reading, supports their efforts to learn to read, and celebrates their successes.
Business and community leaders started the first SMART program in Clatsop County in 1992. Nearly 25
years later, the community continues to value the importance of children’s literacy. Statewide, SMART has
served more than 180,000 students and partnered with over 117,000 volunteers, and given away 2.3
million books.
DONATIONS
SMART is nearly 100 percent privately funded, and we
not part of the school system. Each year, SMART must
raise money from private sources to support our mission.
SMART’s average annual cost per child is $300, which
includes the tangible and infrastructure costs necessary
to implement SMART statewide, from providing books
for children to keep; to recruiting, training and retaining
volunteers; to program design, research and data
collection.
In 2014-15, SMART served 65 PreK through third-
grade students in schools at three SMART sites in Astoria,
Seaside and Warrenton. In 2015-16, our goal is to serve
100 children at Astor, Gearhart, Warrenton and Seaside
Heights elementary schools. With more funding, SMART
can bring the lifelong love of reading and learning to
more children who need us.
To make a donation to SMART, visit.
www.getSMARToregon.org or call 971-634-1620.
CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
SMART welcomes corporate partners who encourage
their employees to volunteer as SMART readers. In-kind
gifts and cash grants are also welcomed by local
businesses.
BIRDIES FOR BOOKS
Sixty friends of SMART participated in a golf
tournament and wine tasting in August 2015 at
Gearhart Golf Links. Proceeds from the event are
underwriting 12 children in the SMART programs in
Seaside, Warrenton and Astoria. Many thanks to event
sponsors Mary and Tim Boyle, Gearhart Golf Links, Lum’s
Auto Center, McMenamins and Walnut City Wineworks.
Get involved by contacting Pam Lum at
pam@lumsautocenter.com
SPONSOR A SMART SCHOOL
We invite corporate partners to Sponsor a SMART
School and participate in the success of SMART students
in your community.
• $5,000 funds 16 children for one year and provides
233 books
• $2,500 funds 8 children for one year and provides
116 books
• $1,000 funds 3 children for one year and provides
42 books
VOLUNTEER
SMART Readers spend an hour each week during the
school year reading with local students. SMART Site
Coordinators work with SMART and site staff to
implement and oversee the program throughout the
school year.
SMART
(Start Making A Reader Today)
101 SW Market St.
Portland, OR 97201
Mission Statement:
SMART engages community
volunteers to read one-on-one
with PreK through third-grade
children who need reading
support. Participating children also
receive new books each month to
keep and read with their families.
Vision\Goals:
An Oregon where every child
can read and is empowered to
succeed.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Volunteering: Paula Seid
971-634-1614,
pseid@getsmartoregon.org
Sponsorships/Corporate Giving:
Sharon Benson
971-634-1620,
sbenson@getsmartoregon.org
Website :www.getsmartoregon.org
SPONSORED BY:
Reed & Hertig
GIVING BACK 2015-16 • 39