To raise awareness about literacy and commemorate the 111th birthday of Dr. Seuss, Rotary Club of Conyers members read to students at Flat Shoals Elementary School as part of the National Education Association’s 18th Annual Read Across America Day on March 2, 2015.

Read Across America Day, which has grown into the nation’s largest reading observance with more than 45 million participating, is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA) with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House, and more than 30 national partners.

According to Thua G. Barlay, Club President, “in 2013, nearly 45 million children and adults celebrated NEA’s Read Across America. By taking part in the 2015 celebration, our club will be a part of bringing an entire nation of readers together under one (Cat in the Hat) hat on Dr. Seuss’s birthday.”

“We ‘adopted’ Flat Shoals Elementary two years ago and reading to the students is one of many rewarding activities we do with the school,” says Beth Anderson, the Club’s Literacy Chair

If you’ve ever shared a book with a child, you know the joy and excitement this small but meaningful act can bring. But, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, since 1993 only 53 to 58 percent of children ages three to five received this joy on a daily basis.

Rotary International is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The Rotary Club of Conyers has over 45 years of doing work within the Conyers-Rockdale community.  Its members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service.  For more information on the club, visit their web site at www.clubrunner.ca/conyers.