Friends of the Libraries, Kona President Ken Guerra accepts Rotary Club of Kona’s grant from their Treasurer Janice Gustin
Rotary Club of Kona generously grants $1,200 to the Friends of the Libraries, Kona for the “Books for Babies” program. This program promotes reading as a family activity and encourages parents of infants between birth and 12 months to share books with their babies as they are their babies’ first teachers. Books for Babies distributes baby board books, information on how to read to your baby as well as the importance of reading and other educational materials to families of newborns at Kona Community Hospital. Programs like Books for Babies recognize the importance of early literacy skills for a child’s school success and beyond. Reading proficiency in the Kailua Kona public elementary schools is at 40% which is considerably less than 52% Hawaii statewide (https://www.publicschoolreview.com/Kailua-Kona). This puts an additional emphasis on reading programs before a child enters school.
Mahalo nui Rotary Club of Kona!