YLS and First Lady of Kansas take books to Meadows Elementary
(Monday, Jan. 30) First Lady Mary Brownback went back to school to celebrate volunteers and help foster a life-long love of reading.
Mrs. Brownback read to the entire school at Meadows Elementary during an assembly and then visited several classrooms with volunteers from the United Way to personally give each child his or her own age-appropriate book. More than 600 books were gifted to students thanks to a special grant by the Kansas Volunteer Commission and coordination by the Young Leaders Society.
"Reading is so key to education," said Kim Konency, Young Leaders steering committee chair. "We know that access to books at home is critical to success in school and beyond."
The Young Leaders Society launched a book reading and gifting program, Junior Leader Readers, in October 2010 which has grown dramatically over the past 18 months.
The school visitors were all met with appreciative smiles and several hugs. Some classes also sent Thank You notes to the United Way. Check out Linda Chapman's 4th Grade Class's:
