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