On Tuesday, October 3, Yours Humanly hosted Family Literacy Night at El Monte Elementary School (Concord, CA, Contra Costa County), held inside and outdoors on the school’s campus. Unlike our more traditional literacy nights, El Monte’s was an all-school book fair, drawing more than 300 people, including students and their families, to the festivities designed to promote early literacy and encourage parent engagement. We purchased and donated 1,894 English and Spanish K-5 books, which were displayed on tables and available through the popular book vending machine in the multi-purpose room. Students earned tickets and tokens by completing educational activities and exchanged those rewards for books of their choice to take home and keep. Dinner was also served outside, providing something for everyone during the warm fall evening.
El Monte’s Family Literacy Night was made possible through our Coloring Futures initiative and a generous grant of $213,000 from the City of Concord to fund our ten-school Family Literacy Night project, benefiting more than 4,000 Concord students. View photos.
Early literacy is the key to academic achievement, strong language skills, and lifelong learning. Please donate today to help us continue to reach students in need with the gift of books.