Wahluke's Read Across America day
Volunteers from the Ellensburg Kiwanis Club, which sponsors Wahluke High School Key Club, and current Key Club officers on the day Kiwanis surprised Key Club with a $250 donation. From left, the photo includes Tania Alvarez, Millie Oliver, Erica Vivar, Larry Oliver, Thalia Alvarez, Rich Searle, Dulce Barragan and Chuck Haight.
MATTAWA - From coast to coast, more than 45 million readers, young and old, recently celebrated the nation's largest reading event - Read Across America Day.
In Mattawa, the Wahluke High School Key Club did its part to deliver the message: Kids who read and who are read to do better in school and help build great public schools.
Launched 14 years ago as a way to get children excited about reading, Read Across America has grown into a year-long program that culminates every year on or around Dr. Seuss's birthday.
Key Club is an international student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership. The Wahluke chapter has 52 members and has participated in events ranging from Seattle's Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, Trunk-or-Treat, Read Across America and Special Olympics in Cheney.
"It is a wonderful group of kids, and they worked very hard to raise money to help buy books for the library and funds to be able to go and be volunteers at Special Olympics in Cheney this Spring," advisor Bethany Martinez said.
Key Club hosted its annual Read Across America Night on Feb. 27. There was an excellent turnout, Martinez said. One lucky winner walked away with $100 in Scholastic books.
However, she wasn't the only winner. The Ellensburg Noon Kiwanis surprised the Key Club with a $250 check to be used at the book fair to purchase books for students.
Ms. Lemons' and Mrs. Arlt's classes where some of the lucky recipients of books along with several individuals. In all, a total of 25 students were able to receive a brand new book.
The type of books range from award winning picture books to best-selling chapter books. The students came to the book fair the day following the event and chose the books themselves, with guidance from their teachers.
"Thanks to support from teachers, Key Club members, Kiwanis, FFA, and the community, we were able to reach our goal and will be able to provide much-needed books for the WHS library and send more of our students to volunteer at Special Olympics this May," Martinez said.
The Kiwanis check was presented to Key Club advisors Ross Randleman and Martinez during the Read Across America activities by Kiwanis President Rich Searle.