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I just read the following Oregonian article about Reading is an Investment, a reading contest of children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade. Kids have to read<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>books with money related themes for 13 hours and 20 minutes or listen to books read aloud for 6 hours and 40 minutes. Winners receive $250 Oregon College Savings Plans. <br><br>Children and parents may be coming to their local public libraries for money themed books to read for this contest. Libraries can prepare by knowing about the contest, and providing a list of money themed books at their library and/or copies of the <a href="http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/Recommended%20Reading%20List%202009.pdf%20">Reading is an Investment recommended reading lis</a>t. <br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">List of recommended titles</span>: http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/Recommended%20Reading%20List%202009.pdf <br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Contest details</span>: http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Newspaper article</span>: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2009/12/kids_read_about_money_possibly.html<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"> Katie Anderson, Library Development Services<br>* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *<br> Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301<br> katie.anderson@state.or.us, 503-378-2528<br></div><br><h1><font size="4">Kids: Read about money, possibly win money for college</font></h1>
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By <a href="http://connect.oregonlive.com/user/bhammond/index.html">Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian</a>
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<h5>December 18, 2009, 7:24AM</h5>
<br>Oregon elementary school students who are willing to spend at least 13 hours reading books with money-related themes have a <a href="http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/Reading%20Log%202009.pdf">chance to win a $250 college savings account</a>.<br><br>The
reading has to be done between now and spring break. It must add up to
13 hours and 20 minutes for students who can read to themselves; six
hours and 40 minutes for young children who are read to.<br><br>And all that reading has to include at least three books chosen by librarians for their finance-related themes. The <a href="http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/Recommended%20Reading%20List%202009.pdf">list of 75 eligible books</a> ranges widely, from "A Chair for my Mother," a story about a family that <span class="apple-style-span">sets aside money following a fire, to the how-to “Kids Guide to Money Cents,” </span><span class="apple-style-span">which allows readers to determine their “money personality” and even offers business startup advice.</span><o:p> </o:p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></p> The contest is the brainchild of state <a href="http://www.ost.state.or.us/About/Treasurer/">Treasurer Ben Westlund</a>,
who hopes to accomplish at least two aims. He wants to publicize the
Oregon college savings plan, a tax-deductible way for families to save
up for a child's college education. And he want to increase the
financial literacy of young Oregonians.<br><br>From among the students
who enter, 100 will win a college savings account of $250. Last year,
just 2,500 students entered, making for pretty good odds of winning.<br><br>To
be eligible to enter and get a certificate of achievement, the student
must live in Oregon and be enrolled in kindergarten through grade five.
To win the scholarship money, both the child and a parent must be U.S.
citizens or legal residents with Social Security numbers.<br><br>The best place to find information about the contest is <a href="http://www.ost.state.or.us/Read/">right here</a>.<br><br>- <a href="mailto:betsyhammond@news.oregonian.com">Betsy Hammond </a><br></body></html>