Local Leaders Will Read to Children in 'Stories for Students' on Saturday

The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation is pleased to present Stories for Students, a reading event to benefit Sonoma’s public elementary school libraries at the Sonoma Plaza Amphitheater, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.  Guest readers include: Dr. Charles DeTorres (Pediatrician), Mr. Sam Turner (Firefighter), Mr. Bob Gossett (Music Teacher), Mr. Tony Fucile (Author/Animator), Nicole Abate-Ducorroz (Trustee-SVUSD), a police officer and more. Admission is free for the event and donations will be accepted.

Stories for Students is part of an effort by Parent Teacher Organizations and the foundation to reinstate library hours at Sonoma public elementary schools and support literacy at local public charter schools. In general, the 25 percent cut to elementary libraries this year has resulted in fewer hours of library time for each K-5 student in the district.

“Reading is the most important skill in early childhood learning and we want to do all we can to encourage and promote a love of reading and the presence of books in every child’s home as much as we can. The PTO’s are taking an important stand to help our libraries and we are grateful for their leadership”, said Laura Zimmerman, Executive Director of the foundation.

Sign-up forms are available at each elementary school for people who would like to be guest readers during the event. Donations will be accepted during the event or can be made online at www.svgreatschools.com.

Since 1993, The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation has raised over $5 million for the public schools of Sonoma Valley. The purpose of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation is to make sure every student graduates well prepared for college, career and civic responsibility. The foundation supports local schools by funding programs aimed at raising student achievement and creating a generation of students who love to learn. Currently the foundation funds the Exploratorium Science Program and the Visual Thinking Strategies Art Program in five local elementary schools, plus ‘Preschool for all at El Verano School,’ the Teacher Support Network at Sonoma Valley High School and the district wide School Garden Program.

Please visit the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation online at www.svgreatschools.org or by phone Laura Zimmerman (707) 935-9566.