Reading Under the Lights

A few months back, our CEO interviewed me as homework for a certification she was working through at the time. She had a closed-door interview with each staff member and asked us about some of our favorite and least favorite parts of our jobs. I don’t remember the questions exactly, but at one point she asked me something along the lines of “What is something that you really enjoy doing at United Way and why?” I, of course, asked for more context but she left it up to my interpretation. I told her that I really love being part of the Reading Under the Lights programs, not because we have to, but because it is the right thing to do.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Reading Under the Lights is a literacy program that United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties (UWWH) partners with Wayne County Public Library and local school districts to host a free book gifting event. Typically, the event is held at the end of a school year, with the intent to provide books to students to read during their summer break. At the event, students from each school have the opportunity to choose their own books, based on interest, at their own varied reading levels, in an environment that encourages and celebrates reading. Depending on sponsorship donations, some schools can have students pick up to FIVE books to keep and read throughout the summer!

In the most recent version of the Kids and Family Reading Report, 8^th Edition, only half of school-age parents are aware of the idea that school-aged children lose academic skills over the period of summer break. [1] This decline in academic skills, or reading comprehension levels, is also known as the “summer slide.” One way to combat this drop in literacy levels for students is to not only provide books to students, but for them to have the autonomy or “buy-in” to select the books they will read. 93% of kids say their favorite books are the ones they picked out themselves, and 92% of kids say they are more likely to finish reading a book they have picked out themselves. I agree!

Reading is the foundation for most of what humans do throughout our lives. It is an essential function often taken for granted. Without the opportunity to learn to read at a young age, this can often set individuals back when preparing for life, post-education. Think about it. If you can’t read, you often can’t follow a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in a workplace. Reading is essential when driving. You even need to be able to read when ordering from a restaurant’s menu. Reading Under the Lights brings such a value to our community by connecting our students in local schools to community libraries and organizations, while promoting positive literacy association. By investing in our youth, we are investing in our community’s future.

For more information about getting involved in Reading Under the Lights, or to bring the program to your school district, contact us at United Way (330) 264-5576.

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  [1] The Summer Reading Imperative (scholastic.com)