A Common Agenda to Change the Course for Our Children
Those of you who know me or have worked with me know at least one thing — I like to get things done. Whatever that means — from finishing pro…
Region Shows Support with Attendance Awareness Proclamations
As the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s journey unfolds, our region continues to display overwhelming passion and support to ensure…
Poster Contest to Raise Awareness About Suncoast Attendance
September is national Attendance Awareness Month – a time for recognizing why attending school every day (and on time!) is critical to student…
United Way of Manatee County a Catalyst for Children’s Success
Catalyst – it’s a person or thing that precipitates an event. Stimulus. Spark. Spur. Impetus — all are associated synonyms.
I was driving behi…
Suncoast Panel Features National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Expert
There was a full house at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee last night as hundreds of community members gathered to hear from Ro…
A New Vision for Success in Manatee, Sarasota Counties
If they say it’s differences that can bring people together — that’s certainly true, especially when it comes to uniting two counties around e…
Manatee Community Foundation Supports the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
This past March, the Manatee Community Foundation gave a grant to the Manatee Library Foundation for the Marauders’ Library Readers program, wh…
A Shared Vision for Grade-Level Reading Success
We are reminded every day in newspaper and on television that America is divided. Our different beliefs and opinions often drive a wedge betwee…
A Community Reality and Opportunity
It is so exciting to be a part of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading because we are gathering information, sharing knowledge, and be…
The Numbers Are Telling
“Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together.” – Robert South
Reading proficiency scores both nationally and locally…
A Communitywide Vision of Success Through the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading marks the beginning of a communitywide vision — one shared by both Manatee and Sarasota counties…
Volunteer Bright Spots Abound in Sarasota and Manatee Counties
This post is part of a series highlighting the outstanding contributions of volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 12-18. These volunt…
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Leader Inspires a Region
More than 300 people participated in “Breakfast with a Visionary” in Sarasota featuring Ralph Smith, the managing director of the Campaign for…
Bright Spot: Sarasota
Editor’s Note: The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading highlighted the work being done in Sarasota County in this Bright Spot. Bright Spots showca…
Preparing Young Learners Means Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce
I recently attended the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2013 Education Summit where I was particularly interested in how the business community in…
Networks Driving Community Change
If you knew about the statistics lottery for low-income children, you might never look at the future of your community the same way again.
The…
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Inspires at Florida Philanthropic Network Summit
Nothing could stop Ralph Smith from getting to the Florida Philanthropic Network Summit in Orlando last month — not even 26 hours of flight del…
Florida Funder Gathering Focuses on Grade-Level Reading Gap and Potential
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Kathy Silverberg for sharing this post. Kathy traveled with the Sarasota group to learn more about the Campaign for Gr…