Chamber Effort Reaches 21,000 Students on National Young Readers Day

Friday, November 16, 2012

For Immediate Release:

Chamber Effort Reaches 21,000 Students on National Young Readers Day

 441 Volunteers Encourage Area Students to Read

Prince William, Virginia – Months of work on the part of Prince William Chamber of Commerce Education Committee came to fruition on November 13,  when 441 volunteers came together to read to 21,000 in 34 area schools in celebration of National Young Readers Day (NYRD).    

Committee members Denyse Carroll of SPARK, the Education Foundation for Prince William County Public Schools and Julie Weatherington of Seasons of Hope spearheaded the efforts.  “This project continues to gain momentum every year,” says Carroll. “Our volunteers are just wonderful and thoroughly dedicated to this project.  Reaching out to so many students throughout our community is so rewarding.”

Volunteers represent many area businesses as well as parents, grandparents, retirees and others who value the importance of instilling good reading habits.  Several companies, including Lockheed Martin, Home Instead Senior Care, NOVEC, BB&T, Northern Virginia Community College and Laser Quest, adopted entire schools, sending multiple staff members to read.  Student clubs at area high schools also volunteered to read, including the Robotics Team at Gar-Field, Key Club at Osbourn and the BETA Club at Brentsville District High. 

“Strong reading skills can translate into academic achievement and eventually to success in the work place.  Through National Young Readers Day, members of the business community can help open doors of opportunity for area students,” said Rob Clapper, President & CEO of the Prince William Chamber, who read to students at Mayfield Elementary.  Other notable readers included City of Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish, Manassas Park Police Division Chief Ron Winder and Prince William County Supervisor Marty Nohe. 

Carroll thanked the committee members who worked behind the scenes to make the day possible:  Jamie Medders of Tri-Ed Tutoring, Michelle Rao of LaserQuest, Steve Kubin of Primerica, Heather Witmer of Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), Ramunda Young of NVCC, Lianne Best of Employment Enterprises, Kendra Kielbasa of Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William, Radhika Bajaj and Midge Teagan of Bookworm Central, Arlene Stewart of East to West Embrodiery, Julie Weatherington of Seasons of Hope, Gayle Whitlock of Whitlock and Associates, Shannon Joy of Capital Group Benefits, Linda Bare of Manassas Christian School, Andrea Griffin of Colonial Life and Lloyd Curtis of FreshWise Tutors.  

The committee is also in the midst of its Winter Warm-UP online clothing drive that provides children in need with cold-weather essentials.  A donation of $10 purchases a kit containing a hat, gloves and sweat suit.  The kits will then be distributed to students at Title I schools in the area.   Visit pwchamber.org and search keyword “Warm-UP” to donate and to learn about other hands-on outreach activities of the Education Committee. 

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Lisa Fredenburgh reads to students at Westridge Elementary School as part of a Prince William Chamber of Commerce initiative to read to students at 34 area schools on National Young Readers Day.

About the Prince William Chamber of Commerce:

The Prince William Chamber of Commerce is the largest voice for the business community in the Washington, DC Metropolitan region. Together with our nearly 2,000 members that represent more than 70,000 employees, we work to create an environment where business and people thrive.  To accomplish this, we focus our efforts in the key areas of business growth, economic development, advocacy, education and community outreach.  In this way, we are building a solid foundation for the success of our business members and our community. For more information, visit our website at www.pwchamber.org or call the Prince William Chamber at 703-368-6600.