United Way fosters the love of reading on Read for the Record

Hartford, Conn. (October 26, 2023) — United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut partnered with Jumpstart, Hartford Public Schools, East Hartford Public Schools, Hartford Public Library, Consolidated School District of New Britain and Bloomfield Public Schools to celebrate its Annual Jumpstart Read for the Record®. Nearly 200 volunteers participated in this year’s Read for the Record reading to more than 4,000 students across our region. This celebratory and fun day builds an intergenerational community through reading and raises awareness around the critical importance of early literacy.

“United Way knows how crucial it is for children to read at grade-level by the start of fourth grade. This milestone can make a huge difference for their future success, and we are working to support every child to accomplish this goal. Today, our dedicated United Way volunteers are part of one of the largest literacy mobilizations in the country that help students foster a love of reading,” shared Eric Harrison, President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
This collaborative effort has the participation of the public and private sectors as well as community members who joined United Way to close literacy gaps and create opportunities for children to succeed in school.

This year, volunteers read “With Lots of Love” by Jenny Torres Sánchez to students from kindergarten to third-grade across central and northeastern Connecticut. This book, available in English and Spanish, is about family, finding ways to stay connected and sharing love across distances.

“Experiences like Read for the Record connect people to the joy of reading while also connecting children with role models. I remember when I was a child and had guests visit my classroom – it never failed to pique my interest and get me excited to learn. Studies show that volunteering can improve a person’s well-being; not to mention the inspiration it provides to young students. United Way is proud to lead an effort that provides individuals, groups and workplaces with an opportunity to achieve their philanthropic goals,” added Harrison.

Special guests that joined United Way for Read for the Record were: Mayor Bronin, City of Hartford; Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodríguez, Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools; Bridget E. Quinn, President and CEO, Hartford Public Library; Mayor Mike Walsh, Town of East Hartford; Tyron Harris, Chairman East Hartford Board of Education; Superintendent Thomas Anderson, East Hartford Public Schools; Superintendent Dr. James Thompson, Bloomfield Public Schools; and, Taylor Kinzler and Caitlin Burchill from NBC Connecticut.