Kids Read Foundation partners with Murray City to provide free books to kids
Oct 07, 2024 01:21PM ● By Bailey Chism
Murray elementary students Eli Kunzi, River Elliott and Ember Allsop with Miss Murray Allysha Sullivan receive certificates for helping choose books for the Kids Read book initiative. (Photo courtesy of Lynda Brown)
The Kids Read Salt Lake Foundation is making a powerful impact on literacy among children in Title I neighborhoods throughout the Salt Lake Valley. With a mission to provide equal access to reading materials for all grade-school children, the foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to build strong reading skills and achieve a brighter future.
The urgency of their work is underscored by a troubling statistic: less than half of Utah’s third graders are reading at grade level, which poses a significant barrier to their academic success. Kids Read aims to close this gap by providing essential reading resources to children who need them the most. Their latest initiative, "Brighter Futures Through Reading," has gained significant momentum, thanks in part to a new partnership with Murray City.
On Sept. 17, Mayor Brett Hales officially recognized the partnership during a city council meeting, presenting a proclamation in support of the initiative. This recognition highlights the importance of the foundation’s work and underscores the community’s commitment to enhancing literacy among its youngest residents.
The Kids Read Salt Lake Foundation began placing their “Read and Succeed” library boxes in the Salt Lake Valley and Murray three years ago, focusing on areas with high populations of refugee and immigrant families.
“We have concentrated our efforts in the Murray area due to the large number of refugee and immigrant populations,” explained Lynda Brown, president of Kids Read Salt Lake.
With support from Murray School District Superintendent Jennifer Covington, the foundation carefully selects books that are appropriate for each grade level, ensuring that the children receive materials that are both engaging and educational. This year, they plan to distribute over 2,875 books, funded by donations from local Murray businesses. These sponsors, which include COMCAST, the Murray Rotary Club, and The King's English Bookshop, are playing a vital role in making the initiative a success.
Currently, the foundation maintains over 70 functioning library boxes across the community, each holding more than 50 books that are frequently refilled to keep up with demand.
"I would guess in three years we have been through thousands of books, so I would say many thousands of kids have been helped with our initiatives,” Brown said, highlighting the vast reach of their efforts.
Alongside Murray, COMCAST has also played a crucial role in supporting Kids Read’s mission. In addition to being a primary sponsor, COMCAST has committed to providing 2,800 students with free books, aligning with its broader goal of enhancing digital literacy and supporting the next generation of STEM professionals.
Through these collaborative efforts, the Kids Read Salt Lake Foundation is not just providing books—they are building a foundation for a lifetime of learning and achievement. As they continue to grow and impact thousands of young readers, their work stands as a testament to the power of community support in shaping brighter futures for all children. λ