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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2018)
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 four times less likely to graduate from high school, and for children living in poverty, that figure leaps to 19 times less likely. SMART works to ensure that children are meeting the third-grade reading benchmark by providing the two ingredients essential for developing early literacy skills: shared book reading and the availability of books. The SMART program concept is simple: pair trained adult volunteers with children for one-on-one 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 enjoy with their families. The intention of SMART is to provide a fun, child-guided and culturally affirming experience with books with a goal of sparking a lifelong love of reading. Business and community leaders started the first SMART program in Clatsop County in 1992. Over 25 years later, the community continues to value the importance of helping children discover a love of reading and learning. Statewide, SMART has served more than 210,000 students thanks to the help of over 134,000 volunteers, and given away 2.7 million books. DONATIONS SMART is nearly 100 percent privately funded, and we are not part of the school system. Each year, we must raise money from private sources to support our mission. SMART’s average annual cost per child is $325, 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. BIRDIES FOR BOOKS Over 60 friends of SMART participated in a golf tournament and wine tasting in August 2018 at Gearhart Golf Links. Proceeds from the event are underwriting 48 children in the SMART programs in Seaside, Gearhart, Warrenton and Astoria. Many thanks to event sponsors Mary and Tim Boyle, Gearhart Golf Links, Lum’s Auto Center, McMenamin’s, Walnut City Wineworks, Columbia Bank, Reed & Hertig, RE/MAX River & Sea, and TOTEM Properties. Get involved by contacting Sharon Benson at sbenson@getsmartoregon.org. 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. Partici- pating 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 In 2017-18, SMART served 201 PreK through third-grade students in four sites in Astoria, Gearhart, Seaside and Warrenton. In 2018-19, our goal is to serve 215 children at Astor, Gearhart, Seaside Heights, and Warrenton elementary schools. With more funding, SMART can bring the love of books and reading to more children who need us. 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 Sponsorships/Corporate Giving: Sharon Benson 971-634-1620, sbenson@getsmartoregon.org To make a donation to SMART, visit www.getSMARToregon.org or call 971-634-1620. • $1,000 funds 3 children for one year and provides 42 books Website : www.getSMARToregon.org CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES SMART welcomes corporate partners who encourage their employees to volunteer as SMART Readers. Cash grants are also welcomed from local businesses. 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. SPONSORED BY: Reed & Hertig GIVING BACK 2018-19 • 53
