Bob’s Discount Furniture Kicks Off $10,000 Reach Out and Read Sponsorship With Cat in the Hat Author at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center School

Reading by Noted Children’s Book Author Tish Rabe Will Launch a Year-Long ‘Rocking the Road to Read with Bob’s Outreach’ Reading Campaign

Flanking children's book author Tish Rabe, Reach Out and Read Executive Director of Connecticut Christine Garber (R) accepts a check from Bob's Outreach Director Cathy Poulin (L)

HARTFORD, Conn.--()--In celebration of National Read Across America Day and the 111th birthday of Dr. Seuss author Theodor Seuss Geisel today, Bob’s Discount Furniture is partnering with Reach Out and Read to launch “Rocking the Road to Read with Bobs Outreach,” a new year-long initiative to increase early literacy by bringing smiles and books to local children’s hospitals.

To support the initiative, Bob’s Outreach will present a $10,000 check today to Reach Out and Read representatives at the CCMC School in New Britain, Conn. The school, affiliated with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, provides comprehensive special education for students, from age five to 21, who require intensive intervention due to severe emotional, behavioral, cognitive, developmental and/or learning problems.

The “Rocking the Road” initiative kicks off at 1 p.m. today at Connecticut Children’s, where best-selling children’s author Tish Rabe will read aloud one of her recently updated books in the Cat in The Hat Learning Library series of rhyming science books for early readers: Oh the Things You Can Do That Are Good for You!.” After the reading, each child at the school will receive their own new copy of the book, donated by Bobs Outreach. Bob’s is also donating copies of Tish Rabe’s newest book, “Love You, Hug You, Read to You” to the Reach Out and Read program at Connecticut Children’s.

As part of the new “Rocking the Road” initiative, Bobs Outreach and Reach Out and Read plan to visit at least six more hospitals and clinics throughout the year for additional book readings and giveaway events. “We hope to not only bring smiles to these children’s faces, but share our love for reading,” says Cathy Poulin, public relations director for Bob’s Discount Furniture.

“We’re so grateful to both Bob’s and to Reach Out and Read for allowing us to experience first-hand the magic of Tish Rabe and her books,” says CCMC school Principal Patricia Gerrity. “Events like these are very meaningful to our students, and help us to create the kind of supportive, yet stimulating environment that allows them to realize their full potential.”

Reach Out and Read is a national, non-profit organization that prepares children for academic success by developing critical early literacy skills and supporting healthy brain and social/emotional development in children. Reach Out and Read partners with pediatricians serving low-income communities to encourage parents to make reading aloud a daily routine. The program provides each child with a new book at every well-child visit from 6 months through 5 years of age, giving parents the tools they need to foster a love of reading in their children.

Reach Out and Read partners with 20,000 medical providers through 5,000 clinical program sites in all 50 states, where altogether, it serves 4 million children and distributes 6.5 million new books each year. In Connecticut alone, Reach Out and Read has 300 partner medical providers serving 40,000 children and distributing close to 70,000 new books each year.

“We’re thrilled by the support that Bob’s Discount Furniture is providing our organization,” says Christine Garber, Connecticut executive director for Reach Out and Read. “I also want to personally thank Susan McCann and Colleen Doyle LaFrancois, co-producers of “The Big Book Getaway” author event series for introducing me to the Bob’s Outreach team last September at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Conn. Without that connection, we would not be embarking on this exciting initiative today.”

About Bob’s Discount Furniture

Bob’s Discount Furniture provides a wide variety of quality furnishings – including living room furniture, bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, office furniture and home accents – at everyday low prices. The stores also offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience featuring cafes in each store with free gourmet coffee, ice cream, cookies and candy. Since 1991, Bob’s has built strong customer loyalty by offering the highest-value home furnishings at the lowest possible prices. With 57 furniture stores located throughout New England, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the Manchester, Conn.-based company has become the 14th-largest U.S. furniture chain. Bob’s is committed to supporting communities where its stores are located through a variety of charitable giving efforts. Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation has anchored the company’s philanthropic work for more than 15 years. In addition, the Bob’s Outreach program was created as a separate entity to help schools and children-related charities. The company donates over $2 million to charities through these programs each year. For more information on Bob’s charitable programs, visit http://www.bobscares.org/, and follow us on Twitter @MyBobs and @MyBobs_Charity and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyBobs.

Contacts

Bob’s Discount Furniture
Brandie Young, 510-599-2785
brandie.young@upwardagency.com
or
Reach Out and Read
Christine Garber, 203-980-6430
Connecticut Executive Director
Christine.garber@reachoutandread.org
or
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Monica Buchanan, 352-219-0860
Public Relations & Social Media Manager
MBuchanan@connecticutchildrens.org

Contacts

Bob’s Discount Furniture
Brandie Young, 510-599-2785
brandie.young@upwardagency.com
or
Reach Out and Read
Christine Garber, 203-980-6430
Connecticut Executive Director
Christine.garber@reachoutandread.org
or
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Monica Buchanan, 352-219-0860
Public Relations & Social Media Manager
MBuchanan@connecticutchildrens.org