Heather Robinson, director of the Eastern Massachusetts “Reach Out and Read” program. Along with her was also Bridget Clifford who is the person in charge of the program at the Pediatric Associates in Methuen. Dr. Rex Pajela, from Pediatric Associates in Holy Family was also in attendance.

Our club has sponsored the program for a couple of years now over at the Holy Family Hospital. This year we presented a $500 check, for their “Reach Out and Read” Program at Pediatric Assoc. in Methuen. Most of you were familiar with what the program entitles, but Heather Robinson joined us to tell more about it.

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The more than 4 million families served annually by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and a six-month developmental edge over their peers.

For more information about the program, visit them at http://www.reachoutandread.org/index.aspx