By Lesley McCullough McCallister
Volunteers, friends, community supporters, board members and staff gathered on March 20 for Read-A-Palooza and to celebrate 30 years of Read Aloud in the Mountain State.
Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed delicious food and a lively atmosphere courtesy of Paterno’s at the Park in Charleston. This year’s “Generation Read Aloud” theme highlighted the stories of individuals who grew up with Read Aloud in their own classrooms, as well as teachers, parents, and readers.
“The fact that we were celebrating our 30th birthday encouraged us to take a look back and reflect on the impact the program has had in the lives of West Virginia’s children,” said Mary Kay Bond, Read Aloud West Virginia executive director. “We were able to highlight stories from students benefitting from the program in the early years and the role reading continues to play in their lives today as parents of a new generation.”
Read-A-Palooza was extra special because Steve Westfall, a member of the West Virginia Legislature and a Jackson County Read Aloud reader, presented RAWV with a citation from the West Virginia House of Delegates recognizing and applauding Read Aloud’s 30 years of volunteer service to the children of West Virginia. United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito and West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman sent prerecorded anniversary messages.
Thanks to the support of Read-A-Palooza Signature Sponsors BrickStreet Insurance and The Elliot Family Foundation, as well as the generosity of additional corporate sponsors and individual donors, this year’s Read-A-Palooza event was the organization’s most successful to date. Read Aloud staff expressed gratitude to all who attended, donated or otherwise showed support to help make the 30th anniversary celebration extra special.
Lesley McCullough McCallister is a Read Aloud supporter, volunteer reader, newsletter contributor and a freelance journalist.
To see photos (courtesy of Rafael Barker) from our 2017 Read-A-Palooza event, visit our Facebook page.