Will Schaerr, a General Manager at Ken Garff Automotive Group, says the Fox 13 "If You Give a Child A Book..." initiative is personal to him.
He shared a story from when he was in the 3rd grade and wanted to be a part of a reading contest. "I had the ability to get to the library, to get to those books so I could begin to read and learn and grow and become more educated. And, there are a lot of kids out there who don't have the blessing that I had as a child," says Schaerr.
That's why he's proud that Ken Garff Automotive Group is the sponsor of "If You Give a Child a Book … ” childhood literacy campaign that seeks to make sure books are available to kids who need them most.
A significant marker for educational success occurs when most children are only 8-9 years old. How well a child reads at the end of third grade can affect the rest of his or her education.
A child who can’t read at grade level by third grade is four times less likely to graduate from high school. If this same child lives in poverty, 13 times less likely to graduate. But 61% of low-income families have zero books at home.
The “If You Give a Child a Book … ” childhood literacy campaign seeks to make sure books are available to kids who need them most.
Across the country, Fox 13's parent company Scripps partners with low-income schools and local nonprofit groups that work directly with children and families to present the books through book fairs and other giveaways throughout the following year. In the program’s first four years, the campaign has donated more than 352,000 new books to children nationwide facing poverty in their communities.
Please join us in our mission to empower children in need with the literacy tools they need to be successful in school and in life by donating to our “If You Give a Child a Book … ” campaign. The money you donate will stay right here in Utah.
To learn more or to donate, please visit: fox13now.com/giveabook.
