Read for the Record starts 14th year

United Way of Southwest Minnesota is participating in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. This year marks the 14th anniversary of the program. Thank you, Omu!, by Oge Mora, will be read by community volunteers to Pre-kindergarten to second grade students at schools, libraries, preschools, and child care centers in Lyon, Lincoln, Murray, Yellow Medicine and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties on Thursday, November 7.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is an annual reading celebration that highlights the need for quality early education in America by mobilizing adults and children to set a record for the largest shared reading experience.

Participating locations will receive a copy of the book as a gift to their classroom, library, or child care center from United Way of Southwest Minnesota. “This is a great way for community members to engage with our youngest learners,” said Shelby Otto, Community Engagement and Education Coordinator.

“As a former teacher, I really enjoyed Read for the Record and my students did, too. I encourage the public to volunteer to read at a participating location.” Schools participating include: Bert Raney, Lincoln Elementary (Ivanhoe), Minneota Public School and St. Edward’s (Minneota).

Thank You, Omu! will also be read on the radio at 1:30 p.m. on November 7 on 1400 KMHL.

Since the campaign’s inception in 2006, more than twenty million people have joined local Jumpstart’s Read for the Record reading celebrations.

Volunteers can sign up to read by visiting our website, www.UnitedWaySWMN.org, and clicking the blue ‘Volunteer’ tab or by emailing Shelby at Shelby.Otto@UnitedWaySWMN.org. Learn more about Jumpstart’s Read for the Record at www.jstart.org/readfortherecord.