WakeMed and Wake Tech Pitch In for Read & Feed
Story from staff reports. Photo by Brooke Meyer.
Cary, NC – WakeMed and Wake Tech have partnered to help Read and Feed, a non-profit child literacy organization in Cary. The partnership includes significant financial support and increased volunteer hours.
$10,000 + Volunteer Time
Through the partnership, WakeMed donated $10,000 as well as continued vounteer time, and WakeTech has agreed to provide additional student volunteer hours. The donations will allow Read and Feed to continue to expand within Wake County.
“Combining the human and financial resources of Wake Tech and WakeMed to help elementary children improve their reading skills has been a huge win for all involved,” said WakeMed President and CEO Dr. Bill Atkinson II, Ph.D. “Many thanks to Read and Feed and its unique mobile classroom program for taking our employees, turned reading tutors, into the neighborhoods where Wake County students need the most academic support.”
Since its 2007 creation, Read and Feed has served more than 1,800 Wake County disadvantaged elementary school children and currently has 17 program sites in session. The organization’s Feed the Reader Road Show is the only program in Wake County that brings the classroom to the neighborhoods to serve nutritious meals, tutor children and help families build home libraries.
“When approached about ways Wake Tech might contribute to Read and Feed’s literacy efforts in Wake County, I was impressed by the impact this small organization has already made,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott. “Thanks to the volunteers who tutor and provide meals as well as the generous donors who support this initiative, Wake County students receive the individualized attention and guidance they need to improve their reading skills—a vital component of academic success. There is no doubt that some of today’s Read and Feed participants will be tomorrow’s Wake Tech students.”
Jan Frantz, Read and Feed founder and president added, “Statistics show students who do not read at grade level at the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. The terrific support provided by these two leading organizations will move us closer to reaching our ultimate goal of providing every child a chance to read.”
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Education coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Bright Horizons School.
Good on WakeMed and good on Wake Tech. And extra good on Jan Frantz for being relentless in making this work. Anytime Jan would like another photo session, I’ll make time.