Mayor Robert J. Duffy presented the new coloring book and personally distributed it to first graders from School #9 on Monday, June 18th at 10:30 AM at City Hall, 30 Church Street. MEDIA RELEASE June 12, 2007 4th “Crayon Project” Puts the Focus on Year-Long Learning When first graders in the city of Rochester leave for home on the last day of school in June, what happens to those first, precious lessons on the “abc’s” that they receive during the school year? Not much, in many cases. Experts say that in order for a child to learn to read, it is imperative that the learning process not begin and end with the school year. Without parental guidance, books and a home where reading is encouraged, a child may well go back to school in September at virtually the same place scholastically they were the year before. The Crayon Project, now in its fourth successful year, aims to address this problem. The Crayon Project, headed by community activist Isobel Goldman in cooperation with Nazareth College, will debut a new coloring book incorporating literacy skill building, on Monday, June 18th at 10:30 AM at City Hall, 30 Church St. Mayor Robert J. Duffy will present the new coloring book and personally distribute it to first graders from School #9. In 2002, alerted that a majority of city school children leave school for the summer without books, toys or even a box of crayons, Isobel Goldman founded the Crayon Project. The goal of the project was to raise funds to purchase a box of crayons for all city school students in grades K-3, to be distributed at the end of the school year. Local artists contributed drawings toward the production of a coloring book that was printed and sold to fund the purchase of 30,000 boxes of crayons. The Crayon Project also served to highlight the high rate of poverty in the city of Rochester. This year the Crayon Project has evolved to focus on the importance of year-long learning. The new coloring book includes the addition of a literacy exercise that children perform in the process of coloring in the book. The coloring book was created with Ms. Goldman’s drawings; the skill building component was developed by literacy and education professors at Nazareth College. For more information about the kick-off or the Crayon Project, contact Isobel Goldman, 301-1113.

VOLUNTEERING: We are acutely aware of the many others in our community who are committed to making a difference in the lives of children in need.
We hope that by reviewing our list of volunteer opportunities that you will take action to touch the lives of children... thereby becoming personally involved.

THE CRAYON PROJECT encourages you to get involved and volunteer…
your life will be enriched, and your determination to help "color a brighter future" will be personal.

Start today. Find the volunteer opportunity that suits you best... call the number provided and learn more about the needs of that organization...
your awareness will increase your activism so that you can advocate for the needs of the children you serve...

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