42 U.S. Governors' Spouses and 3 Governors Are Holiday "Reading
Ambassadors" to Give the Gift of Reading to America's Children
NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2012
/PRNewswire/ -- To reinforce Scholastic's global literacy
campaign, Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life., and to help get
books into the hands of children who need them most, 42 U.S.
Governors' Spouses, plus the Governors of Illinois, Vermont, and Arizona, have signed on as "Reading
Ambassadors" this holiday season. To ensure that more kids across
the country have books to read at home this holiday season,
Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media
company, is donating 500 books to the school or organization
designated by each of the Reading Ambassadors.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO
)
Research shows that children who grow up in homes where books
are plentiful read more frequently and go further in school than
those who don't. Educators also know that children need reading
practice at home, not just in school, in order to gain fluency and
improve comprehension. The Reading Ambassadors play an important
role in sharing these important messages about how to raise
confident, successful readers with families in their states.
"I'm proud to see so many Governors and Governors' Spouses
participating as Reading Ambassadors this holiday season," said
Carla Markell, First Lady of
Delaware and Chairwoman of the
Spouses Leadership Committee for the National Governors
Association. "It has been a challenging year for many states, and
to see everyone come together for the good of the children and
literacy in our communities is a true holiday gift."
"As a former teacher and school administrator, I am passionate
about giving the gift of reading to children," said Lori Otter, First Lady of Idaho. "I'm proud to act as a Reading
Ambassador with Scholastic Inc. once again during this holiday
season and I hope that Idaho's
young people are inspired to read every day."
The Governors and Governors' Spouses participating as Reading
Ambassadors this holiday season are (to date):
- Alabama – First Lady
Dianne Bentley
- Alaska – First Lady
Sandy Parnell
- American Samoa – First Lady
Mary Ann Tulafono
- Arizona – Governor
Jan Brewer
- Arkansas – First Lady
Ginger Beebe
- Colorado – First Lady
Helen Thorpe
- Delaware – First Lady
Carla Markell
- Florida – First Lady
Ann Scott
- Georgia – First Lady
Sandra Deal
- Guam – First Lady Christine Calvo
- Hawaii – First Lady Dr.
Nancie Caraway
- Idaho – First Lady
Lori Otter
- Illinois – Governor
Pat Quinn
- Iowa – First Lady Christine Branstad
- Kansas – First Lady
Mary Brownback
- Kentucky – First Lady
Jane Beshear
- Louisiana – First Lady
Supriya Jindal
- Maine – First Lady
Ann LePage
- Maryland – First Lady Katie
O'Malley
- Massachusetts – First Lady
Diane Patrick
- Missouri – First Lady
Georganne Nixon
- Nebraska – First Lady
Sally Ganem
- Nevada – First Lady
Kathleen Sandoval
- New Hampshire – First Lady Dr.
Susan Lynch
- New Jersey – First Lady
Mary Pat Christie
- New Mexico – First Gentleman
Chuck Franco
- North Carolina – First
Gentleman Bob Eaves
- North Dakota – First Lady
Betsy Dalrymple
- Ohio – First Lady Karen Kasich
- Oklahoma – First Gentleman
Wade Christensen
- Oregon – First Lady
Cylvia Hayes
- Pennsylvania – First Lady
Susan Corbett
- Puerto Rico – First Lady Luce
Vela
- Rhode Island – First Lady
Stephanie Chafee
- South Dakota – First Lady
Linda Daugaard
- St. Thomas Virgin Islands –
First Lady Cecile de Jongh
- Tennessee – First Lady
Crissy Haslam
- Texas – First Lady
Anita Perry
- Utah – First Lady Jeanette Herbert
- Vermont – Governor
Peter Shumlin
- Virginia – First Lady
Maureen McDonnell
- Washington – First Gentleman
Mike Gregoire
- West Virginia – First Lady
Joanne Jaeger Tomblin
- Wisconsin – First Lady
Tonette Walker
- Wyoming – First Lady
Carol Mead
"We are extremely grateful to our Reading Ambassadors, who are
giving the gift of reading by reinforcing the importance of reading
every day and delivering beautiful new books to children who might
otherwise not have a book to enjoy this holiday season," said
Francie Alexander, Chief Academic
Officer at Scholastic. "These First Ladies, First Gentlemen, and
Governors are serving as reading role-models, a position that can
have powerful and positive effects on the futures of children in
their states."
The Scholastic Reading Ambassadors program invites U.S.
Governors' Spouses to emphasize the importance of literacy for all
children in their respective states. For the past four summers, the
Reading Ambassadors have come together as part of the Scholastic
Summer Challenge to send a powerful message to the students,
teachers, and parents in their states about the importance of
reading over the summer months. By coming together this holiday
season, the Reading Ambassadors are once again ensuring that more
children have access to books.at home.
For more about the Reading Ambassadors program, please visit our
media room.
SOURCE Scholastic Inc.