This is a press release story that I wrote for my Media Writing class about Read Across America Day, which also happened to fall on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2017
Contact:
Lauren O’Neil
lauren.oneil@salve.edu
Read Across America on Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
The National Education Association is excited to announce that the 20th annual National Read Across America Day will take place on March 2nd, which is also Dr. Seuss’ Birthday.
National Read Across America Day is a nationwide celebration of reading, and will take place in libraries, schools, community centers and homes all across the country.
This year, the NEA is especially encouraging people to read books that highlight the diversity of America. The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization. It represents nearly 3 million educators at all academic levels.
“The imaginations of millions of students are ignited with the exhilarating magic that happens when they open up a good book… There are so many great new children’s books that really celebrate diversity and we’re excited that publishers like Random House are doing more books with themes about cultural identity,” said NEA’s President, Lily Eskelsen Garcia.
In order to build a nation of readers, this event aims to motivate everyone, including students and parents, to open a book. The Read Across America campaign is about more than just this one day; as well as grant programs for school libraries and curriculum support for educators, this event inspires parents to read aloud to their children.
“When an adult happily reads aloud with a child, the message that reading is important becomes clear. When an adult bedecked in the Cat’s hat reads aloud and serves up green eggs and ham and birthday cake, kids get the message that reading is also fun!” said ReadingHouseKids.com blogger, Rachael Walker.
The NEA partners with nearly 50 national nonprofits, such as Random House and Seussville, it also is an association that brings together kids, teens, and books in thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers.
The NEA expects to reach more than 45 million readers on this upcoming National Read Across America Day.
Don’t forget to join the Read Across America Fan page and Cause page on Facebook and check out the Read Across America Channel on Schooltube.com for videos.
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The goal of the NEA is to inspire people around the nation to read, and to read to children. Read Across America Day is just one day of the year that this organization arranges to promote their cause.
Lauren O'Neil 