As we reach the end of the academic year, we would like to thank everyone who promoted early literacy by becoming United Way ReadingPals!
Nineteen HealthTrust Workforce Solutions team members signed up to be ReadingPals, which required each member to spend one hour per week reading with a child. Many of these children were Kindergarten or first-grade students at Flamingo Elementary School.
“The best part about ReadingPals was seeing the excitement in the students’ eyes when it was time to read,” said Credentialing Specialist Yoland Innis. “ReadingPals is the best volunteer based involvement I have been a part of to date.”
Each volunteer was paired up with a child and read with the same child over the course of the school year. The children got to keep each book that was read to them so that they could practice reading on their own.
“Her teacher told me she scored the highest in her class on the End of Year reading testing,” Document Imaging Manager Kitty Evans said about her student. “I feel honored to have played a part in this process.”
Early literacy has proven to play an important role in future success and job readiness, making programs like ReadingPals crucial in the lives of many children. However, the children aren’t the only ones to benefit from the ReadingPals program.
“For me, the best part of the experience was not just advancing reading skills and mentoring for a child,” said Associate Recruiter Nelson Parets, “but also the opportunity to connect with the youthful part of my psyche.”
In fact, our HealthTrust volunteers each came away with not only a new friend, but also an experience that will last a lifetime.
“I quickly realized how grateful I was to have this meaningful experience each week,” said Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Chemtov. “The time I spent with [my student] reminded me how special it is to help others and how we both benefit from our time together.”
To learn more about ReadingPals, click here.
