The Boys & Girls Club of Shelton has received a $10,000 grant to launch a new reading initiative that promotes both educational and leisure reading for adolescents. The Wal-Mart Foundation’s Bright Spot for Reading initiative for adolescent readers will help create a reading center, provide training for staff and encourage relationships to ensure the success of young members.
Nationally, the Wal-Mart Foundation awarded Boys & Girls Clubs of America with $1.15 million to help establish reading Bright Spots at 100 Clubs across the U.S.
Beginning March 1, 2011, the Bright Spot Reading Center will feature books geared at youth ages 11 to 15 and will include programming to encourage adolescents to read more and develop a more positive attitude toward reading. Programming will include activities in drama, art and technology; field trips to local libraries and bookstores and service learning projects in order to create reading opportunities in every area of the Club.
Shelton’s club includes group discussions and activities that all the kids participate in. We started the group off by building a bright spot bookshelf and painting it together. We are designating a spot in out Teen room for the purchase of bean bag chairs, curtains and lamps. We are taking a field trip to the local bookstore Written words to purchase teen appropriate books for our shelves. We plan on going to the local library to obtain library cards as well. Our teens will be reading to the younger kids on Dr. Seuss’s birthday and working in pairs to create a story of their own. There are a handful of kids participating in this club but others participate if they are free each week.
“The Wal-Mart Foundation’s Bright Spot for Reading Initiative is essential in preparing youth for academic and life success,” continued, Jamie Perry of the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley “We are grateful to The Wal-Mart Foundation for the opportunity to create an environment that will encourage and allow our youth to enjoy and develop an affinity for reading.”
In addition, Boys & Girls Clubs of Shelton will also strengthen existing and develop new relationships with local libraries to enhance its programs and services.
Located at 1 Positive Place P.O. Box 209 Shelton, CT 06484, The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley provides program opportunities for hundreds of boys and girls each year. The Club is open after school hours. Youngsters interested in joining the Club, learning more about The Walmart Foundation Bright Spot for Reading Initiative or other youth programs can contact Jamie Perry at The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, (203)-924‑9329 or visit www.BGC-LNV.com.
