Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 14, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Reads with Children, Adults on Capitol Lawn to Promote 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge

Gov. Gary Locke today hosted a “Read In” with more than 100 children and parents on the lawn of the State Capitol to promote the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. The event was co-sponsored by the Timberland Regional Library.

The governor was also joined by the 2004 Olympia Lakefair Princess Court, the South Sound Reading Foundation’s Booker T. Bear, and the dogs of PAWS to Read Pet Partners. Locke thanked those organizations for helping sponsor the “Read In,” and also acknowledged additional sponsors: the Washington State Library, Page Ahead and Costco of Tumwater.

Locke started the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge in 2002 to encourage Washington students to continue reading during summer vacation and add to the reading gains they made during the school year. More than 6,000 Washington children participated last year.

The governor is encouraging all Washington state residents under the age of 18 to read 15 hours or more by Labor Day (Sept. 6). They have until Sept. 18 to report their success. Students can participate by being part of any summer reading program (local or regional library, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, etc.) or by reading on their own.

“It is not too late to meet or beat my challenge,” Locke told the children at the event, which was held near the Capitol’s Tivoli Fountain. “If you begin today, you can achieve the goal of 15 hours by reading 20 minutes a day, six days a week.”

“Reading is the foundation of all academic success. I want each and every one of you to succeed in life, and being a good reader is the foundation of that success,” he said.

Each student who meets the challenge will receive a signed certificate from the governor and become eligible for random drawings for books and the grand prize of a trip for four to Disneyland. Sponsors of this year’s challenge are Comcast, Alaska Airlines, Page Ahead and Verizon.

Locke today also accepted a $15,000 check from the Verizon Foundation. The grant provided 2,900 books for students who are participating in the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge through 45 Washington Reading Corps summer school programs in elementary schools across the state. The money also provided 100 books to be used as prizes in random drawings at the end of the challenge.

“We thank the Verizon Foundation for their commitment to literacy and their support of the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge,” Locke said. “Making books available to children is an important step toward creating the habit of lifelong reading and learning for our young people.”

Students can report their summer reading adventures to the governor by logging on to www.governor.wa.gov/summerreadingchallenge or by writing to the following address: Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, P.O. Box 40002, Olympia, WA, 98504-0002.

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Editor’s Note: Photos from the event are available by calling the Governor’s Communications Office at 360-902-4136.

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