CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS REACHES OUT AND READS TO CHILDREN AT CAFHC
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
PHOTO RELEASE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS REACHES OUT AND READS TO CHILDREN AT LFHC'S CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
October 4, 2011, Brooklyn, NY…Councilman Jumaane D. Williams visited LFHC's Caribbean-American Family Health Center on September 29 as part of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York's efforts to promote school readiness by providing free books and literacy guidance to children when they visit their pediatricians for a checkup.
A short speaking program featuring Councilman Williams; Traci Lester, executive director, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York; Kathy Hopkins, VP, Community Based Programs, LFHC; and Anita Beecham-Robinson, M.D., medical director, Caribbean-American Family Health Center, kicked off the festivities and was followed by a reading session with children and a tour of the site.
"We, as medical providers understand the crucial role that reading aloud plays in a child's healthy language development – that's why we encourage parents to read to their children at an early age and provide them with a brand-new book at each visit," said Anita Beecham-Robinson, M.D., medical director, Caribbean-American Family Health Center. "Thank you to Councilman Williams, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, and our AmeriCorps and HealthCorps members who make this program possible."
"We are delighted to partner with Lutheran Family Health Centers to promote early literacy and school readiness among the young children and families served by the health center," said Traci Lester, executive director, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York. "Council Member Jumaane Williams' visit to the Reach Out and Read program at Lutheran's Caribbean-American Family Health Center helped to reinforce the importance of reading as a precursor to healthy development in young children and later success in school."
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York distributes books to over 272,000 children annually at 178 Reach Out and Read clinical locations throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties. LFHC's Reach Out and Read program is coordinated by Lutheran Family Health Centers' Sunset Park AmeriCorps Community Allies and HealthCorps programs and always welcomes new book donations and individuals interested in volunteering to read to children in our health centers.
From left to right: Hanna Pickwell, volunteer coordinator and AmeriCorps member; Anita Beecham-Robinson, M.D., medical director, Caribbean-American Family Health Center; Kathy Hopkins, VP, Community Based Programs; Councilman Jumaane D. Williams; and Traci Lester, executive director, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York.
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