First grade students from all 24 first grade classes in the Fond du Lac School District visited Marian University on Tuesday, April 30, with their teachers and literacy coaches to celebrate reading and literacy. They participated in the READ-4-LIFE program organized by Fond du Lac Morning Rotary, Marian University, and the Fond du Lac School District, with assistance from Fond du Lac Noon Rotary. The purpose of the program is to encourage reading and emphasize to the students how much the community cares about literacy. Volunteers from Morning Rotary and Noon Rotary, along with volunteers from Marian University’s faculty, students, and staff, engaged the children in stories, games, scavenger hunts, and other activities. They children stayed for lunch, too. As a part of the program, each first-grade teacher received eight books from Morning Rotary, which they shared with their students during the fall. Students were asked to identify their favorite book. Each student received a READ-4-LIFE T-shirt which they wore to the celebration. At the completion of the READ-4-LIFE Celebration, each student received a copy of their favorite READ-4-LIFE book. In addition to about 425 public school students, teachers and staff members, the event involved over 25 Rotary volunteers, and nearly 40 Marian University faculty, staff, and student volunteers. Literacy and Basic Education is a focus-area of The Rotary Foundation and Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club. This was the second year of the READ-4-LIFE program in Fond du 2023-24 READ-4-LIFE Project Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club P.O. Box 1356, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1356 https://fdlmorningrotary.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FondDuLacMorningRotary/ Lac.
The project idea was shared with Morning Rotary by former Marian Vice President Ken Mulliken. It had previously been conducted by the Rotary Club of Ashland, Oregon, and
originated in Casper, Wyoming, as Casper Cares/Casper Reads. The READ-4-LIFE project was funded by Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club as a beneficiary of the 2023 Wine Around the World event, with additional funding from Fond du Lac Noon Rotary Club, Marian University, and the Fond du Lac School District. Co-sponsors included: Christine M Schiek, LLC, Edward Jones, Fox Valley Savings Bank, Grande Cheese, Hoppers Screen Printing & Embroidery, National Exchange Bank & Trust, Vesta (formerly Huberty & Associates), Alliant Energy Foundation, CD Smith, LedgeVest Financial, and M3 Insurance.
