For the Love of Reading

Posted by admin on 02.11.2010 at 1:39 pm

In today’s post, David Murphy talks about his recent experience reading to kids as part of the Ferst Foundation’s CEO Challenge:  For the Love of Reading.  The challenge was for Georgia business and community leaders to take time out of their busy schedules to read to kids.  The idea behind the challenge is to highlight the importance of childhood literacy.  Check out what David had to say about the experience and don’t forget to vote!

**UPDATE – FEBRUARY 19TH, 2010 – PLEASE NOTE – VOTING HAS ENDED**

I get asked a lot of questions about our mission, our business model and our industry, so it was certainly refreshing on a cold, crisp morning this past January to have someone ask “Why literacy for children?  Why focus our literacy efforts on them?  Why do you value reading and literacy efforts for children?”  You can hear some of my thoughts on this in a video that was recently produced to help support childhood literacy efforts here in the state of Georgia.

That day, I joined a group of Georgia based CEO’s and university presidents in a friendly competition to draw attention to childhood literacy efforts and had a great experience.  I went to Premier Academy where I met with Gladys Gore, her staff and about twenty or so four year-olds for whom I had the pleasure of reading several books. There are few joys that match seeing a story come to life in the eyes and smiles and laughter of children!  Starting with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and right on through 3 or 4 books I read to the children that morning, their enthusiasm and love for learning through reading…..and all the new worlds this opens up for them…..is not only contagious but worth every minute of our collective efforts to champion.

I serve on the Board for the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy here in Georgia.  The mission:  Provide books for local communities to prepare all Georgia pre-school children for reading and learning success, regardless of income levels.”  “For the Love of Reading” is available to children residing in Georgia and provides one free book each month from birth to age 5; currently, over 70 counties in Georgia are being served through this Program from the Ferst Foundation.

We still have a long way to go and many pre-K children to reach.  I certainly want you to have fun with this “CEO Reader” contest and vote for your favorite “reader”…..but more importantly, get involved in supporting literacy and education in your own communities.  Our children are our future.  Help them enter school with a solid foundation of being able to read and you’ll be unlocking all of the beauty and potential that lies within each and every one of them.

David

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