United Way Reading Buddies Impacts NWI First and Second Grade Reading Skills

United-Way-Reading-Buddies-Impacts-NWI-First-and-Second-Grade-Reading-SkillsThe United Way Reading Buddies regional literacy program, funded by a $20,000 donation from Attorney Kenneth J. Allen Law Group, kicked off its 2016-2017 school year program on September 21.

More than 3,700 new, stuffed animal Reading Buddies were delivered to 160 first and second grade classrooms in Lake and Porter counties. Funding from sponsor Kenneth J. Allen Law Group allowed every classroom on the waitlist to participate in this year’s program.

One teacher shared the program’s impact in the classroom. She said “a child with a speech impediment was able to practice his sounds daily with his reading buddy. He was also able to build confidence. By the end of the year we saw a big change in his reading skills.”

“We are extremely pleased to fund this valuable program again this year. There is no more important element to our society than quality education, and literacy,” said Attorney Kenneth J. Allen. “We are honored to sponsor the Reading Buddies program.”

Mr. Allen personally delivered Reading Buddies to children at Wallace Aylesworth Elementary in Portage and Beiriger Elementary in Griffith. Delivery efforts were also supported by Two Men & a Truck of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University girls’ softball team and many other volunteers.

Reading Buddies is a literacy program developed by United Way that provides first and second graders with a “buddy” stuffed animal to read aloud to in order to help build confidence in their reading skills. In conjunction with classroom instruction, the Reading Buddies tool improves oral fluency scores and achieves grade-level reading goals.

For more information about the Reading Buddies program, visit UnitedWayPC.org.