Voracious Readers to Receive Ice Cream

The following was submitted by the Friends of the Ridgewood Library.

The Friends of the Ridgewood Library are sponsoring their annual reading marathon fundraiser during the month of February. The marathon, which encourages participation from students in pre-school through middle school, helps foster a love of reading for Ridgewood children while raising valuable funds for the Library to purchase new books, media materials, and to fund various learning, arts and science programs such as the Robotics program, Mango online language learning system and the Summer Reading Club. 

The kick-off for the Annual Reading marathon is Friday, February 1, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Ridgewood Library. Robert the Guitar Guy will open the festivities with signing and music. 

Nearly 3,000 Ridgewood students took part in last year’s event. Participants must keep track of the number of books and/or pages they read during the month of February and log their reading on a form distributed by their teachers.

This year, all elementary and pre-school students who read 12 books or 500 pages will be awarded a gold medal. All participants who turn in their completed forms by the March 1, 2013 deadline will receive a coupon for a free ice cream donated by Ben & Jerry’s in Ridgewood. Elementary classes that achieve 100% participation will win free ice cream sundae parties, also donated by Ben & Jerry’s. 

Middle school students who read 750 pages and return parent-signed forms by the March 1, 2013 deadline will also have a chance to win one of eight (8) $25 gift cards (four per school) and the top male and female reader from both Benjamin Franklin and George Washington Middle Schools will win a free book of their choosing.

Last year had record levels of participation from the elementary schools, with all schools achieving over 90% participation. Orchard, Ridge and Willard were standouts, all achieving 100% participation school-wide. Last spring Ben & Jerry’s hosted free ice cream sundae parties for 116 elementary classes.

Participation in the reading marathon is free of charge, however, families are asked to consider supporting the Ridgewood Public Library by making a donation of any amount.

Look for reading marathon forms to come home in your child’s backpack, on your school’s website, or at the Ridgewood Library. Forms must be completed and returned to your child’s teacher or the Ridgewood Public Library Children’s Center by Friday, March 1, 2013 to be eligible for the free ice cream coupon. 

For more information contact the Children’s Center at 201-670-5600 x110.