There’s nothing quite like the connection made when reading to a child. The connection is even more meaningful when the reader is reading his or her own book.
That simple thought drove a new activity for students at our Learning and Teen Centers: writing and illustrating their own books-then reading them to pre-K children at local daycare facilities.
The idea was developed by one of our employee innovation program teams called Gift Givers. Because the books can be read over and over, we call it gifts that keep on giving. And the students become heroes to the children they read to.
Students are creating more than a dozen books with themes of giving: Gift of Friendship, Gift of Love, Gift of Music, Gift of Reading, and Gift of Family.
Copies of the books will be sold at a special “meet the authors” event at Future Foundation in December 6. Books will also be available on the Future Foundation website in late December.The kids are very excited about the project,” said Angela Goggins, a Future Foundation case manager. “They’re gaining valuable skills and developing self-esteem. They can always look back at their books as something they accomplished.”
But the students themselves summed up the project best. Eighth-grader Dezara Flanagan said, “It makes me happy to give,” she said. “It feels good to know that I am making someone else happy.”
