December 2, 2005

LANSING – In his role as Michigan’s Ambassador of Reading, First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern today donated 500 children’s books to school libraries in Jackson, Ypsilanti, Detroit and Lansing as part of the “Scholastic Read 2006” global read-a-thon.  Mulhern also read to students at each of the schools to encourage students, parents, and teachers to read to children for 2006 seconds, approximately 33 minutes, a day.
 
“The ability to read is an important life skill that helps people become successful,” Mulhern said.  “It is critical that we instill a love for reading in young children.  This day celebrates the importance and enjoyment of reading and encourages children to keep reading all year long.”
 
“Scholastic Read 2006” brings millions of children, parents, and teachers from around the globe together to encourage schools to celebrate reading for the year to come and renew their commitment of inspiring children to read.  This year nearly 500 classrooms in Michigan are taking part in the read-a-thon.

Mulhern was named the state’s reading ambassador by Scholastic Books to lead Michigan’s “Scholastic Read 2006” celebration.  He is joined by his counterparts in 47 other states, and by two first sons. 
 
Mulhern donated books and read to students today at Wilson Elementary in Jackson, Erickson Elementary in Ypsilanti, Maybury Elementary in Detroit, and Wexford Elementary in Lansing.  These schools were chosen because of their recent progress under the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
 
Last year, more than one million children and 24,000 teachers in all 50 states and more than 34 countries participated in Scholastic Read.
 
For more information about “Scholastic Read 2006” visit www.scholastic.com/readfor2006