Public Health Management Corporation will participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record™ on October 7, 2010—the official date of the nation-wide campaign to set a new world record for the largest shared reading experience on a single day.
The Management Services component of PHMC will join with Jumpstart to read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats to more than 2.5 million children that day. Approximately 75 family, group and childcare centers participating in Keystone STARS and Out of School Time sites in Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties will participate.
PA Representative Tony J. Payton, Jr. of the 179th Legislative District and PA Representative Louise Williams Bishop of the 192nd Legislative District will join other political and business leaders, athletes and celebrities as guest readers to the young children. In the process, PHMC intends to help draw attention to the importance of incorporating literacy opportunities into quality childcare and out-of-school time programs. Today half of children from low-income neighborhoods start school one to two years behind their peers. When these children start behind, they stay behind.
“Through the SERK and other family programs, PHMC helps to ensure that children are prepared for kindergarten and able to attain 21st century learning skills as they progress in school,” said Amy Friedlander, PHMC’s vice president of management services and special initiatives. “Early childhood education initiatives such as SERK prepare children for educational success, which ultimately leads to life success.”
