Rotary Club of Palo Alto University Supports Youth Education

Summer has passed, and children are not going back to school due to the pandemic. Now, more than ever, the digital divide affects children in poverty by limiting their ability to access online learning and resources.

“For many years, The Rotary Club of Palo Alto University (www.paloaltouniversityrotary.org)

donated a children’s book, in honor of the weekly club speaker, to Belle Haven Elementary school’s library, “ said Judy Koch of Rotary Palo Alto University.

“In 2019, Palo Alto University Rotary (PAUR) Club launched the BooksPlus initiative to “enhance book access for children in under-resourced communities Rotary District 5170 (www.rotarydistrict5170.org) and promote evidence-based strategies that improve literacy and promote early childhood literacy,” she added.

Recently, the Rotary Club of Palo University, the Rotary Club of Los Altos along with the non-Rotary partners of BooksPlus completed a successful pilot with students living in Sunnyvale and Campbell. Through Bookelicious, students chose 5 age appropriate books that homed in on their particular interests. Books were mailed over the summer.

BooksPlus is proud to announce their partnership with Bring Me a Book Foundation, Bookelicious.com and the Family Engagement Institute (FEI) of Foothill College. BooksPlus focuses on physical books in the hands of children. Although on-line books are plentiful, internet access and personal devices for income challenged families are not. People of all ages are tired of online meetings and screen time. Books are transportable.

BooksPlus is also partnering with the Rotary Clubs of Palo Alto, the Rotary Club Los Altos and the Rotary Club of East Palo Alto Bayshore (https://portal.clubrunner.ca/6761) on relevant projects in their community.

Bring Me a Book provides book access to under-resourced children and families through partnerships with schools and community-based organizations to foster a love of reading, kindergarten readiness and learning to read. Bookelicious.com is a website for children that promotes literacy by helping children find great books on subjects they are passionate about School.

To learn more about the program, and how to launch the BooksPlus program in your community.

Please contact the Palo Alto University Rotary Club BooksPlus Chair,

at Jo@anjoro.com for additional information.

ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF PALO ALTO UNIVERSITY

The Rotary Club of Palo Alto University is a diverse club and our focus is on us

Area of Service groups -- that includes community, our youth, seniors, families in need and more. Our International projects enable us to support third world countries, and also for betterment of the environment. We are Millennials, Gen Xers, Baby Boomers, and the Greatest Generation!

We are serious about service above self. Our club meets via Zoom each Friday from 7:30AM to 8:30AM. If you are interested in attending our club meeting, for more information please visit our website at paloaltouniversityrotary.org.

ABOUT ROTARY DISTRICT 5170

Rotary District 5170, 61 clubs with 4,000 members is part of the Rotary International global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary International connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio- free world. For more information, visit Rotary District 5170 at www.rotarydistrict5170.org.

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