United Way Of Southeastern Connecticut "Reads For The Record"

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut kicked off its 2013 Campaign today with a Day of Caring, during which volunteers read to students at Jennings and Nathan Hale elementary schools in New London. To make sure everyone was on the same page, all volunteers read from Otis, by Loren Long, and left a free copy of the book for each classroom.  

The book Otis is part of this year’s “Read for the Record,” a national reading celebration that highlights the need for high-quality education in America and mobilizes children and adults to set a record for the largest shared reading experience. 

More than 40 classrooms had signed up to participate in today's Read for the Record, with volunteers from United Way reading to more than 900 children. Otis is set on a farm and has positive messages about true friendship and perseverance. Children were asked to draw pictures of what friendship means to them. 

Last year, more than 2.3 million people participated in the Read for the Record campaign. Helping children to thrive is one of United Way’s key focus areas, which is why the organization decided to support education and local schools on Day of Caring.