Homes for the Homeless, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that houses and supports struggling families in New York City, receives hundreds of new books from Kumon Math & Reading Centers, the world’s largest after-school company, in a dedication ceremony on January 7th, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at the Prospect Family Inn located at 730 Kelly Street, Bronx, NY, between 156th Street and Longwood Avenue.
“We believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty”
Hideki Kusuzawa, president of Kumon North America presents Daniel Kennedy, education coordinator of the Prospect Family Inn, with a complete set of new books from Kumon’s Recommended Reading List in addition to 1,200 books collected by Kumon students and staff. Students from the Prospect Family Inn’s after-school program read excerpts from “A Bridge to Terabithia” and “Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry.”
“Access to books is critical for a child’s academic and personal development,” says Kusuzawa, president of Kumon North America. “Books expose children to the world and can inspire them to think analytically, dream, and reach for their full potential.”
Kumon students nationwide collected 12,000 books for local non-profit organizations and schools, which is three times more than last year’s book drive. The need for books is great. In middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to one while in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.
In New York City alone, there are more than 16,000 homeless children. “We believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty,” says Margaret Menghini, program associate for Homes for the Homeless. “Reading is an essential component of education that leads to unlimited opportunities for success.”
DEDICATION CEREMONY DETAILS:
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About Homes for the Homeless
Homes for the Homeless (HFH), is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that focuses its efforts on creating communities of opportunity for homeless families in New York City through its four American Family Inns. HFH works in the New York area to administer a wide range of supportive services and resources to over 35,000 families and 55,000 children, including after school programs, GED courses, child daycare, summer camps, job training and parenting skills workshops, all of which lay the groundwork for a successful future. Through the provision of its services, HFH promotes the belief that education is the tool with which to break the devastating cycle of poverty, and that the education of the entire community about poverty and homeless issues is the only way to create the will necessary to implement effective programs and policies.
About Kumon’s Recommended Reading List
Kumon’s Recommended reading list contains 380 titles designed to help parents select books that enhance their children’s appreciation and understanding of the English language and develop a lifelong love for reading. At least a third of the books on the Recommended Reading List have won literary awards such as the Newbery, Pulitzer Prize, Caldecott and the National Book Awards, presented by the National Book Foundation. The list includes read-aloud books to the classics. There are 100 “Read Aloud” books on the list. Hearing books read aloud is vital to the literacy development of young students. Students are exposed to a variety of genres, writing styles, culture, history and authors.
About Kumon Math and Reading Centers
Kumon [Koo-mon] is an after-school math and reading program that unlocks the potential of children by motivating them to achieve more on their own. Founded in Japan in 1958, the learning method uses a systematic individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration and develop better study skills. Kumon has 26,000 centers in 46 countries and more than four million students studying worldwide.