<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC="http://adcenter.scripps.com/js.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=DEN&size=120x90&sitesection=holidays&pagepos=3"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://adcenter.scripps.com/click.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=DEN&size=120x90&sitesection=holidays&pagepos=3"><IMG SRC="http://adcenter.scripps.com/image.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=DEN&size=120x90&sitesection=holidays&pagepos=3" border="0" width=120 height=90></A> </NOSCRIPT>
'Thank God there was a door' A safe harbor for stormy lives Animals love human volunteers Bean Project changes lives City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly Cops continue crusade for needy kids Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles Denver Partners find joy in mentoring Determination helps single mom Feast gives poor a meal fit for king Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy Homeless critters need Christmas, too Kids Cafes serve up sustenance Little white ball leads teen to turnaround Mentors help teens excel in school, life Musician strikes chord with mentors Once-homeless teen opens door Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention Reach out by reading aloud to kids Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle' Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule School's goal is personal growth Specialist helps keep Indians in class Students communicate, learn through dance moves Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
'Thank God there was a door'
A safe harbor for stormy lives
Animals love human volunteers
Bean Project changes lives
City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly
Cops continue crusade for needy kids
Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles
Denver Partners find joy in mentoring
Determination helps single mom
Feast gives poor a meal fit for king
Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy
Homeless critters need Christmas, too
Kids Cafes serve up sustenance
Little white ball leads teen to turnaround
Mentors help teens excel in school, life
Musician strikes chord with mentors
Once-homeless teen opens door
Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick
Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention
Reach out by reading aloud to kids
Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle'
Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule
School's goal is personal growth
Specialist helps keep Indians in class
Students communicate, learn through dance moves
Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
Volunteers say program enriches young lives
By Mike PattyDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
As a retired teacher and librarian, Rena Brunner knows the importance of reading aloud to children. "I really believe magic happens when you connect kids and books," Brunner said. That's why she volunteers once a week to read to children at the Sandos Westside Family Health Center as part of the Reach Out and Read program. The program was developed in 1989 at Boston City Hospital by a group of pediatricians and early childhood educators. "Joy Of Giving" is a Denver Rocky Mountain News monthlong campaign to make the holiday season a warm and joyful time for everyone. Donations of money or new or slightly used children's books to Reach Out and Read may be sent to Sandos Westside Family Health Center, 1100 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80204. Representatives from Reach Out and Read will be in the News lobby at 400 W. Colfax Ave. from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Information: (303) 436-6255. Three years ago, Dr. Steve Vogler, a pediatrician at Westside, read an article about the program and decided to start it in Denver. "The program makes a lot of sense," Vogler said. "A lot of what we try to do as pediatricians is prevent problems before they occur. Reading aloud to children is a critical step in developing reading skills later on." Today, about 25 volunteers regularly read to children, either in small groups or individually, while they wait to see the doctor at Westside and the nine other clinics of the Denver Community Health Centers. Each child gets a new book to take home after each annual check up. Parents are encouraged and taught how to read to their children. "We give out about 8,000 to 9,000 new boooks a year," Vogler said. "A parent and child sharing a book together not only promotes brain and language development, but social and emotional development as well. We expect positive feelings of being read to by a loved one will carry over into growing up with a love of books." Brunner said her reading does more than just entertain children while they are waiting to see a doctor. "It's fun for them and great for me," she said. "Sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper. But we are also promoting literacy and a love of language. For a lot of these children, English isn't their first language. "But I am always amazed at how they will sit there and listen for 45 minutes. I know they are getting something out of it because they smile and laugh in the appropriate places." People who are interested in the program may volunteer, give money or donate "gently used books." Contact Mike Patty at (303) 892-5423 or pattym@RockyMountainNews.com. December 5, 2000 NewsWeatherOpinionNationWorldSci/TechDeaths BusinessStocks Bank Rates SportsBroncosAvalancheNuggetsRockiesCollegeRockyPreps RecreationSnow Rept.HikingBikingFishingGolfCalendarDentry EntertainmentMoviesDiningMusicOn StageBooksTV Living Comics Health Food Home & Garden Family Travel Cookbook Births Weddings Crossword ClassifiedPlace an adAutoCareersHomes User Agreement / Privacy Statement © Copyright, Denver Publishing Co.Subscribe to the NewsQuestions? Comments? Talk to Us
As a retired teacher and librarian, Rena Brunner knows the importance of reading aloud to children.
"I really believe magic happens when you connect kids and books," Brunner said.
That's why she volunteers once a week to read to children at the Sandos Westside Family Health Center as part of the Reach Out and Read program.
The program was developed in 1989 at Boston City Hospital by a group of pediatricians and early childhood educators.
"The program makes a lot of sense," Vogler said. "A lot of what we try to do as pediatricians is prevent problems before they occur. Reading aloud to children is a critical step in developing reading skills later on."
Today, about 25 volunteers regularly read to children, either in small groups or individually, while they wait to see the doctor at Westside and the nine other clinics of the Denver Community Health Centers.
Each child gets a new book to take home after each annual check up. Parents are encouraged and taught how to read to their children.
"We give out about 8,000 to 9,000 new boooks a year," Vogler said. "A parent and child sharing a book together not only promotes brain and language development, but social and emotional development as well. We expect positive feelings of being read to by a loved one will carry over into growing up with a love of books."
Brunner said her reading does more than just entertain children while they are waiting to see a doctor.
"It's fun for them and great for me," she said. "Sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper. But we are also promoting literacy and a love of language. For a lot of these children, English isn't their first language.
"But I am always amazed at how they will sit there and listen for 45 minutes. I know they are getting something out of it because they smile and laugh in the appropriate places."
People who are interested in the program may volunteer, give money or donate "gently used books."
Contact Mike Patty at (303) 892-5423 or pattym@RockyMountainNews.com.
December 5, 2000
