(KMTV 3 News Now)
The nonprofit Reach Out and Read was founded in 1989. So, it isn’t new; however, it is growing – including in Nebraska and Iowa.
- Plattsmouth pediatrician Dr. Tina Scott-Mordhorst has been involved with the program herself since 2003. “Once we started doing it and getting invested in it, then you really want that for your community and your practice,” she said.
- The national nonprofit’s CEO, Marty Martinez, is from Omaha. He explains, though Reach Out and Read impacts about 100,000 Nebraska and Iowa children combined today, their goal is about 360,000.
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“When I see patients in this clinic where we have Reach Out and Read, that family is going to get a book for that child at every healthcare visit from six months to five years,” Scott-Mordhorst explained.
That’s 10 books per child, times 100,000 – the number of kids served today in Nebraska and Iowa. The goal is more than three-and-a-half times that amount.
“For me, personally, as someone who grew up in Omaha, I wanted to bring our resources, bring more books for families and children, train more doctors – and make sure that every child had access to Reach Out and Read regardless of where they lived or what zip code they grew up in,” CEO Marty Martinez said via Zoom.
Read the full article at KMTV 3 News Now here.
Also: National child literacy group aims for big NE growth and leading the charge is a Husker native (Nebraska Examiner)
Also: Segmento educación: Organización que impulsa lectura temprana se expande en Nebraska y Iowa (Telemundo Nebraska)