Drive to Collect 5,000 Books Kicks off Second Year of Reading Rocks!

A Joint Program of St. Luke's Hospital and Lehigh University Athletics Department in Collaboration with Donegan Elementary School in Bethlehem

Bethlehem, PA (9/24/2009) - A month-long drive to collect 5,000 books to support Reading Rocks! culminates this Saturday, September 26 at the Lehigh-Princeton Football Game at Goodman Stadium. Game attendees who donate a book will receive a voucher for a complimentary Lehigh University Men's or Women's basketball game. Saturday is also Lehigh's annual Kids Day and families are encouraged to arrive early to participate in various fun-filled activities beginning at 11 am. Kick-off is at 12:30 pm.

Reading Rocks! is a joint program of Bethlehem's two largest organizations: St. Luke's Hospital and Lehigh University. "We felt it was important to reach out to our community, to our neighbors, and use our collective resources to help disadvantaged children. Working with Donegan Elementary School to develop a meaningful, results-oriented reading program seemed a natural fit for all concerned," says Susan Schantz, Vice President, Corporate Communications, St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network.

Correlation Between Literacy and General Health

According to the Children's Defense Fund, a direct correlation exists between literacy at a young age and general health. Furthermore, students not reading at grade level in Grade 3 are likely to live, at best, in poverty and, at worst, incarcerated. "The connection between reading, general health and quality of life is a powerful and compelling reason to provide opportunities for young children to read," says Bonnie Coyle, MD, director of St. Luke's Community Health Department and Medical Director of the Bethlehem Partnership for a Healthy Community.

Reading Rocks! began last Spring at Donegan Elementary School in Bethlehem. Donegan serves a low-income, bilingual minority population of 500 students, of whom 80 percent qualify for free/reduced lunch and 44 percent perform below grade level. "Our athletes, through our C.O.A.C.H. (Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping) Program, have a long-standing relationship with the kids at Donegan. The athletes love to give back to the community and through Reading Rocks! they have a meaningful opportunity to serve as a positive role model for the students. The kids at Donegan look up to our athletes and realize if they apply themselves in school they can also be successful in life," says Roseann Corsi, Public Relations Director, Lehigh University Athletics Department.

Already Making a Difference

First-year Reading Rocks! outcomes were impressive and indicate even greater progress is attainable as the program is sustained over years. Outcomes included:

• 61 percent of those with only a May test score improved their reading by at least one level
• 75 percent of those with scores for the full year (both September and May) improved their reading by at least one level
• 41 percent improved their reading report card by at least one level from September to May, with a total of 69 percent either improving one grade level or maintaining an acceptable standard grade for the year
• 28 percent improved their math report card grade by at least one level (from September to May), with a total of 67 percent either improving one grade level or maintaining an acceptable standard grade for the year.

Reading Rocks! incorporates distribution of children's books and one-on-one mentoring for participating students. "Everyone at Donegan has been supportive and committed to helping their students through Reading Ricks! They have welcomed us to the school and have enabled us to work together to achieve these impressive initial results," Schantz says.

School officials set the individual and grade-level reading goals. An after-school reading program is conducted for highest-risk students. Of the 168 students participating in the spring Reading Rocks! program, 80+ students took advantage of the after-school program. More than 100 student athlete and St. Luke's Hospital employees served as volunteer readers and mentors to the students.

More than 2,500 children's books were distributed earlier this year. "Many of the children we serve through Reading Rocks! do not have books at home," says Dr. Coyle. "Our book drives provide these children with their very own books - something most of us take for granted. St. Luke's employees are very supportive of our book drives. We are also grateful for books donated to Reading Rocks! by Cops 'N Kids and other community groups."

Reading Rocks! also incorporates other opportunities for students to interact with positive role models. Main speakers at the spring kick-off assembly were a Lehigh University football player who attended Donegan Elementary School and a St. Luke's surgical resident who related the story of his life from an illegal immigrant who spoke no English to a graduate of medical school. Recently, more than 50 Lehigh athletes visited Donegan for a Reading Rocks! Pep Rally and later spent time in classrooms talking with students.

Various prize incentives are provided to both individual and classrooms who succeed in reaching their reading targets. The spring Reading Rocks! program culminated with a trip to an Iron Pigs Baseball Game for 162 students and family members and teachers. Grade-level reading leaders threw out "first game balls."