Miss SUU Kicks Off Her Platform with a Reading Marathon

Published: March 26, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minutes

Miss SUU celebrated the Cat in the Hat’s 50th birthday reading to children. On March 2 Cassandra Averill read her favorite Dr. Seuss book to over 1000 students in six different elementary schools and to a crowd of more than 50 young children during reading time at the Cedar City public library.

Averill’s platform focuses on her program, “Read for Life,” and encourages early literacy and getting children to enjoy reading. The principals and teachers involved were glad to have her promote such an important foundation to the children, who took pleasure in her excitement.

She also took the opportunity to share information with the kids about a website where they can go online and send the Cat in the Hat a birthday card, anytime through May 1. For every birthday card that is received through the site, a donation of one book will be made to the child’s state. To help promote the site, firstbook.org, Averill passed out free bookmarks with information on them.

In addition to the reading marathon, Averill has established a website where parents can get information on what they can do to encourage their own children to love to read at startyoung.org.

She is also working with worldwidebookdrive.org on a state wide book drive that helps to provide books to poverty stricken areas, rural schools, hospitals, shelters, and schools and universities worldwide.

Averill welcomes opportunities to speak to any organization on the importance of early literacy and her “Read for Life” program. She can be contacted at 435-586-7762.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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