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Everybody
Wins! Power Lunch Program is a non-profit program in which volunteers
from local businesses use their lunch break to read one-on-one to a
child in Grades 2-5 at the Kennedy School. ~Photo courtesy of Darcy
Madden |
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By Hillary Coughlin
Reading
to a child is one of the best gifts you can give them. If you find
yourself looking for an opportunity to give back to the young community
of Somerville, there is a local program that combines giving back and
promoting education. The Everybody Wins! Power Lunch Program is a
non-profit program in which volunteers from local businesses use their
lunch break to read one-on-one to a child in Grades 2-5 at the Kennedy
School. The program was started in Somerville in 2002 and is only one
of the 14 schools in 8 cities in Massachusetts to implement the
program, including communities such as Billerica, Waltham, and Everett.
Everybody Wins! Power Lunch Program was first created by New York
business executive Arthur Tannenbaum, after he heard that reading to a
child is the most important factor in their being able to successfully
read on their own. Since Tannenbaum's launch of the program it has
taken off and is now a nationally recognized program.
As for the
impact of the program on young students, the results speak for
themselves. The program has its own system of gauging its
effectiveness. The teachers at the participating schools survey the
children at both the beginning and at the end of the program to compare
results. These surveys have shown a 90% increase in children's attitude
towards reading, their reading skills, and their articulation and
self-esteem regarding reading.
Barefoot Books is one of the
local businesses that has employees that are volunteers for the
program. Sarah Spencer, International Rights and Sales Manager for
Barefoot Books said, "It's empowering for the children and so important
to their future and those of the communities in which they live."
The
success of the program can be credited to the fact that it has a
personal element to it. "The one-on-one factor is what makes the
program so unique. Some volunteers have worked with the same student
for as long as 6 years and they build very strong relationships," says
Darcy Madden, the Executive Director of the Somerville program. Some of
these dedicated companies who have employees that volunteer their time
are Gentle Giant Moving Company, TJX Companies, Caldwell Bank, and CDC.
Reading
to a child not only enriches a child's life, it is also good for morale
in the work place and is a fulfilling way to spend time as a volunteer.
Donna Callahan, Recreation Supervisor from the City of Somerville
Recreation Commission, described her experience as, "Knowing that I can
in some small way impact the life of this student. Her classroom
teachers have been so complimentary of me, our relationship, and the
importance of having this type of program for all the students that are
involved. I am humbled to be part of the Program's success at the
Kennedy School."
If you or anyone you know may want to become an
Everybody Wins! Power Lunch Program volunteer please contact the
Executive Director Darcy Madden at darcy.madden@ewmb.org. To get more
information regarding the program at both the local and national level
visit www.ewmb.org.
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