Photo provided Book Buddies volunteers celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary at The Commons.
Book Buddies staff hosted an open house for volunteers and BCSC staff members April 23 at The Commons to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the program.
Established in 2005 by the Bartholomew County Literacy Task Force and local educators, Book Buddies of Bartholomew County is a home grown program based on research that utilizes community volunteers to improve literacy in Bartholomew County. Now entering its 20th year, Book Buddies has supported more than 2,909 Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. second and third graders in their efforts to become better readers.
“So today, we honor the past 20 years – and we recommit to the next 20. Because when a community comes together, when we give even a small part of our day to a child’s future, we’re not just changing reading scores. We’re changing lives,” Karen Garrity, one of the founders of Book Buddies of Bartholomew County, said at the event. “Thank you – for believing in children, for believing in literacy, and for believing in the quiet but mighty power of 30 minutes a day.”
Guests were treated to refreshments donated by Ahlemeyer Bakery and Ye Old Fish House. Logan Settle and Nick Semmer from Guitar City and Sound shared their talents by providing music. The event ended with drawings for door prizes donated by the following local businesses: Zinnia Cain, Columbus Bowling Center, Ray’s Automotive, CayPops, Columbus Parks & Rec, Simply Pottery, Hoosier Sporting Goods, YES Cinema, and Logan Settle and Nick Semmer with Guitar City and Sound.
