From: "Saved by Windows Internet Explorer 7" Subject: The Denver Post - First ladies share love of books with kids Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 09:56:35 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000A_01C83592.CA8329B0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6000.16545 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000A_01C83592.CA8329B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6465164 =EF=BB=BF The Denver Post - First ladies share love of books = with kids
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denver & the = west
First ladies share = love of books=20 with kids
By=20 Simona Gallegos Denver Post Staff = Writer
Article Last=20 Updated: 07/26/2007 05:35:42 AM = MDT

3D""=20
Colorado first lady = Jeannie Ritter,=20 second from left, got lots of support from three = predecessors Wednesday to celebrate the Reach = Out and=20 Read Program at The Family Health Center in = Denver.=20 Leading the kids, from left, are Bea Romer, = Ritter,=20 Frances Owens and Dottie Lamm. (Post / Cyrus=20 McCrimmon)

Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter had = children=20 screaming "hooray" during a celebration = Wednesday at The=20 Family Health Center in Denver.=20

Three former Colorado first ladies, staffers, = volunteers and a group of about 20 children = joined=20 Ritter to celebrate the 10th anniversary of = Denver=20 Health Medical Center's Reach Out and Read = program.=20

The national Reach Out and Read started in = 1989.=20 Clinics give juvenile patients books to take = home, and=20 doctors work to teach parents how important = reading is=20 for children's development.=20

"It's not about reading necessarily but about = establishing a love of books," Ritter said. "I = think=20 it's a great message to send."=20

Former first ladies Frances Owens, Bea Romer = and=20 Dottie Lamm joined Ritter in reading to a group = of=20 children who sat captivated by classics such as = "If=20 You're Happy and You Know It" and "No More = Monkeys=20 Jumping on the Bed."=20

Reach Out and Read distributes 16,000 new = books=20 annually in Denver to children ages 6 months to = 5 years=20 who come in for regular check-ups.=20

The program has expanded to serve 10 clinics=20 throughout Denver. Statewide, it serves 90.=20

By the time the kids are ready to start = school, they=20 have a library of eight to 10 books, said Dr. = Steve=20 Vogler, who started Denver Health's program in = 1997.=20

In addition to books, the program sends = volunteers to=20 clinics to read to children and give an example = for=20 parents to follow.=20

The health setting adds its own benefits. It = involves=20 families who are difficult to reach and lends = the=20 strength of the doctor-family relationship, said = Ann=20 Logan, board chairwoman of Reach Out and Read = Colorado=20 State Coalition.=20

Talking and reading with children is critical = to=20 reading and language skills and is imperative to = success=20 in school, Vogler said.=20

For parents and children who haven't had = exposure to=20 books, this becomes painfully apparent when kids = start=20 school, Ritter said.=20

"Many (parents) didn't have the benefit of = growing up=20 with books themselves," Vogler said, "so they = don't=20 understand the importance.=20

Staff writer Simona Gallegos can be = reached at=20 303-954-1555 or sgallegos@denverpost.com.=20

How to help

To volunteer for Denver Health Medical = Center's Reach=20 Out and Read program, call 303-436-8288.

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