United Way, Harrison Team For New Reading Room

Students at Harrison Elementary have a neat new space to get cozy with books thanks to the December 1 opening of a reading room sponsored by the United Way Young Leaders’ Readers Become Leaders initiative. Student reading ambassadors cut the ribbon on the room as District administrators and United Way representatives looked on.

The United Way’s Young Leaders raise money and engage in volunteer activities working towards the mission of lowering the income achievement gap. The group creates rooms at schools with a significant number of low-income students and outfit the room with 1,000 books and present the students each with a literacy kit with two books and activity book to take home. Many of the books come from a donation from the Cleveland Kids Book Bank. The group also provides tables and chairs, bean bags and learning materials.

Besides hearing from four of the Young Leaders, Principal Sabrina Crawford, Superintendent Jeff Patterson and 5th grade reading ambassadors Gavin Stinac, Zelie Cerda-Malicdem, Dahlia Gonzalez Kronika and Lay Phalt Htoo on why reading is important to them, the students also were treated to a surprise visit from Chomps, the Cleveland Browns’ mascot.

While Chomps was a highlight for the students, they were equally excited to receive their new books. Superintendent Patterson left them with a thought that he hopes stays with them for the rest of their lives: “The more we read, the better we learn.”