[kids-lib] Kids win big with summer reading

[Katie Anderson]

The following press release was sent out statewide yesterday announcing the winners of Fizz Boom Save! the 2014 summer reading sweepstakes. Congratulations to the kids and the libraries with winners!

You’ll notice only 8 of the 15 winners claimed their prizes this year. The OLA Children’s Services Division and Oregon Young Adult Network summer reading chairs and I met with the Oregon College Savings Plan staff earlier this week to discuss some ideas to help more winners claim their prizes. We’ll keep you informed if any changes are made.

[cid:9D752095-A694-4D17-A83B-14F35D0CAE91 at hsd1.or.comcast.net.]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Crabb
503-314-7583 | chris at weinsteinpr.com<mailto:chris at weinsteinpr.com>
Oregon College Savings Plan awards more than $11,000
through summer reading programs across the state
Eight Oregon children each receive $529 college savings accounts,
while 15 Oregon public libraries receive an additional $7,500

SALEM, Ore. — Nov. 11, 2014— Eight Oregon children now have a head start on saving for college, thanks to taking part in summer reading. Their names were randomly drawn as winners in Fizz Boom Save!, a statewide campaign designed to promote summer reading programs at public libraries around the state. The Oregon College Savings Plan<http://www.oregoncollegesavings.com> sponsored the program in partnership with the Oregon State Library and Oregon Library Association.

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.

“This is the fifth year that we’ve partnered with the Oregon College Savings Plan on summer reading,” said MaryKay Dahlgreen, Oregon State Librarian. "The Fizz Boom Save! campaign was a great incentive for all Oregon youth to participate in their library's 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
As part of its sponsorship, the Oregon College Savings Plan also underwrote a series of free special performances for libraries in communities with a population of 10,000 or less with a goal to engage and motivate young readers, while helping these smaller libraries drive traffic and encourage summer reading. Select libraries and their patrons enjoyed entertainment from award-winning storyteller Christopher Leebrick, Dragon Theater Puppets, Penny’s Puppets, Charlie Brown the Juggler, and Rich Glauber’s Music in Action throughout the summer months.

About The Oregon College Savings Plan
The Oregon College Savings Plan, which is part of the Oregon 529 College Savings Network, launched in January 2001 and has grown to more than $1 billion in assets as of September 30, 2014. The plan is managed by TIAA‐CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. For more information about the Oregon College Savings Plan, its investment options and how to enroll, visit OregonCollegeSavings.com<http://OregonCollegeSavings.com> or call toll free 866‐772‐8464.

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