Overall, the Oregon College Savings Plan awarded just over $11,000: each of the eight winners received a $529 Oregon College Savings Plan account, while 15 libraries — three from each Oregon congressional district — each received $500.
“The Oregon College Savings Plan believes it is fundamentally important to support summer reading programs for Oregon families,” said Michael Parker, executive director of the Oregon 529 College Savings Network. “Studies indicate that children who don't read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress. If we can get kids to enjoy reading now, we’re setting them up for greater success in school and in life.”
According to the Oregon State Library, nearly 201,325 children and teens participated in the summer reading programs offered at public libraries throughout Oregon, reading 149,898 books. More than 65,788 participants reached their reading goals and finished the summer reading program.
Exactly 5,594 children and teens participated in the Fizz Boom Save! summer reading program. The eight winners included:
• John Ficher of Myrtle Point, Grade 4, Flora M Laird Memorial Library
• Javon Hoffman of Beaverton, Grade 1, Hillsboro Public Library — Shute Park Branch Library
• Aspen Bailey of McMinnville, Grade 1, McMinnville Public Library
• Oliver DeMasi of Philomath, Grade 4, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library — Philomath Community Library
• Caleb Vaughan of Prineville, Grade 2, Crook County Library
• Sophia Marsh of Albany, Grade 5, Albany Main Library
• Rebekah Hewlett of Bend, Grade 2, Deschutes Public Library System — East Bend Library
• Isabella Johnston of Portland, Grade 3, Multnomah County Library — Hollywood Library
Image courtesy of https://www.ok4saving.org/images/photo_reading2014.jpg.
