Pierce County

READING FOUNDATION

Pierce County Reading Foundation

The Pierce County Reading Foundation was founded in February 2006 with a mission to inspire adults to read aloud to children from birth to support educational achievement, economic success and enhanced quality of life. Its vision is Pierce County as a community of readers and thinkers that grows its own competence, creativity, and leadership as every family engages a child from birth in the joy of reading, language, and imagination.

For more information go to www.piercecountyreadingfoundation.org

News and Events

Donate Books to the Pierce County Reading Foundation

POSTED: October 16th 2007

The Pierce County Reading Foundation is teaming with Reading Tree to help bring books to young readers. Reading Tree has approximately 30 of their blue book collection bins in various areas around Pierce County. If you have gently used children's books (approximate age range from newborn to 8 years old) please bring them to a Reading Tree bin in your area. To find a donation bin closest to you please click here to donate. If you have brand new books to donate please contact Becky Fontaine, executive director Pierce County Reading Foundation at: 253-383-3575 or email her at becky@piercecountyreadingfoundation.org.

 


Families in Childcare Benefit from New Books

POSTED: May 11th 2007
Puyallup Playcare Center and First Place for Children are dedicated to raising readers. Both offer quality programs and target low-income children. They receive funds from the United Way of Pierce County. In support of their efforts, the Pierce County Reading Foundation recently gave each child in these centers a new book to take home.

The centers responded with overwhelming joy and many lovely thank you cards. “Thank you so much…what a wonderful gift you gave them!” wrote two of the teachers. “We love books!” said many of the students.

By taking books home we hope parents will be inspired to read aloud with their children for at least 20 minutes a day.


Delicious Desserts Make for Successful Event

POSTED: May 11th 2007
Pat and Chad Kerth run the Old Milwaukee Cafe, a seven-table diner in Tacoma. The Kerths are locally famous for their generosity to good causes and their latest fundraising effort was for the Pierce County Reading Foundation. They were a major force behind our first event: a dinner-dessert auction on Saturday, March 31st. The auction was held at Normana Hall and was wildly successful. It was a lively and energetic group of more than 160 people. Dennis Flannigan, board chair, doubled as the auctioneer. There were raffles for breakfasts at the Old Milwaukee Café and a colorful handmade quilt as well as an auction on 18 outrageous desserts. The top bid-winning cake was called “Chocolate Overload” and was absolutely to die for. Over $14,000 was raised! Plans are already underway for next year's auction, which is sure to be even more spectacular than the last. If you would like to be a part of it, please contact Pierce County Reading Foundation's Executive Director, Becky Fontaine, at becky@piercecountyreadingfoundation.org