Verizon Foundation lead sponsor of April 24 event at HACC-Lebanon Campus, Lebanon Family YMCA, Lebanon Library
April 9, 2010
Lebanon, PA – Local community organizations are partnering on “Literacy Begins at Home,” a free festival for families from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the HACC-Lebanon Campus, Lebanon Valley Family YMCA and Lebanon Library.
The Verizon Foundation provided a grant of $8,000 to support the event, which features special appearances, book signings by children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers.
“Education is the key that can unlock a brighter future for every child,” said Christopher Brennan, director of external affairs with Verizon Pennsylvania. “Verizon is proud to invest in programs, such as our partnership with HACC-Lebanon Campus, to offer children and families diverse array of fun, interactive and educational learning experiences offered by the ‘Literacy Begins at Home’ festival.”
The festival will be facilitated by early education staff and students at the HACC-Lebanon Campus in conjunction with Lebanon Christian Ministries, Lebanon County Library System, Lebanon Valley Council for the Arts, Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, Quality Early Learning of Lebanon County, the United Way of Lebanon County and the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA.
This is the first time these organizations have joined forces on a large scale to promote the importance of literacy in Lebanon County, said Barbara Tokarz, HACC instructor.
The goal of the festival is to provide families with an opportunity to engage in activities designed to support them as they work together to develop literacy skills and instill a life long enjoyment of reading.
Among the activities planned for the day are visits by nationally recognized authors and illustrators Kay Williams, Linda Oatman-High and EB Lewis; introduction of “Nightbear and Lambie” by local author Kerry Royer; interactive sessions by storyteller Lisa Facciponti; parent workshops on infant sign language; Kindermusik sessions for preschoolers; make-and-take literacy activities for parents and children; and creative writing workshops for grade-schoolers.
In addition, there will be vendors, food, bands and outside games and activities.
Families can participate in the events at HACC-Lebanon Campus, 735 Cumberland St.; the Lebanon Family YMCA, 201 N. Seventh St., and the Lebanon Library, 125 N. Seventh St.
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