Contact: Paula Padilla, 767-5849 Media Contact: Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

August 12, 2002 SUMMER PROGRAM ENCOURAGED LOCAL CHILDREN TO READ More than 375 children participated in a pilot Summer Reading Program sponsored by the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, KNME-TV Ready to Learn Program, University of New Mexico Athletic Department and the Albuquerque Business Education Compact (ABEC). The program was held at 33 recreation sites, including city/county community centers, playground programs and Boys and Girls Clubs. Children who read six books received a book from the KNME-TV Ready to Learn program and two tickets to a University of New Mexico Lobo volleyball or soccer game. Hundreds of books and tickets were distributed in July. Susan Solomon, director of the Heights Community Center in Southeast Albuquerque, said the 11 children ages 6-16 who took part in the program benefited. "The program also helped us find out who has reading problems so we could help," Solomon said. "And many of our parents can't afford to take their kids to a Lobo game. It was a good incentive to read." Wolf Scott, age 10, a fourth grader at Monte Vista Elementary, said he read more than half a dozen books including, "Pinocchio," and "The Gingerbread Man." He chose the adventure story "2099" as his free selection from KNME-TV. "I think it was cool," Scott said. "A lot of kids didn't read, but 10 other kids did. I would do it again next year." ###

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981