MECU, Scholastic Host Yorkwood Elementary Reading Day

Students at Baltimore’s Yorkwood Elementary School got a jumpstart on their summer reading when Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore (MECU) and Scholastic Corporation teamed up to bring an afternoon filled with reading fun to the Northeast Baltimore school.

At the end of the day, each student was given a summer reading package, provided by MECU, complete with five new books, a journal and an activity book to track their progress throughout the summer. In total, more than 2,250 new books were distributed.

The event, which was attended by students in grades 5 through pre-kindergarten, featured a series of activities hosted by Scholastic and MECU, including a special appearance by the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip RV. Between posing for photos with characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog, the students played reading-themed games and other activities.

That event was part of a larger effort by MECU to help Baltimore City students prevent the “summer slide,” a tendency among students to lose some of the progress made during the school year over the summer months.
Experts say that regular reading over the summer break is one of the best ways to set students up for success in the fall, when they return to the classroom.

Yorkwood Elementary is one of nine partner schools MECU works with regularly to promote educational initiatives, including many that encourage students to use reading as a way to further their learning and improve their performance in school.

MECU will also provide its eight other partner schools with $1,000 each to purchase new books for kindergarten through second grade classrooms.

“Reading is so crucial to ensuring success in school, and it’s so great to see kids excited about reading, especially as they get ready to go on summer break.” said Tom Poe, MECU Vice President of Marketing. “We’re proud to be able to play a role in encouraging our Baltimore students to keep learning over the summer and to have fun doing it.”

About MECU
Established in 1936, MECU is Baltimore City's largest credit union, with assets of approximately $1.2 billion. MECU has 9 branches throughout the Baltimore area and offers a full range of financial products and services. The credit union also provides access to over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000 shared branches nationwide through the CO-OP network. For more than 36 years, MECU has distinguished itself in the Baltimore community by returning more than $80 million in profits to its members as part of a cash bonus program that rewards members for choosing MECU. Learn more at www.mecu.com.