It's Simple - "Answer the Call..."

What is the saying “many hands make light work”? Well, the same is true about giving. So when the kids from Gresham Barlow School District call this coming week on behalf of the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation’s Phone-A-Thon, give what you can. Every little bit helps.

Seriously there will be thousands of phone calls made and if everyone just contributed $10 it would mean so much to the elementary reading programs in the district!!

For those that donate $40 or more you will receive some great “thank you” gifts for your generous giving:

• A DVD of the “The Tails of Abbygail”, now on CBS on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Kids love this show. It
would be a great birthday gift for anyone under the age of 10 – and I would be happy getting one for my
birthday as I consider myself a kid at heart. Thank you Terri Lynn and Al! 
• A Children’s book courtesy of “Books 4 Giving”. Thank you Kellee and Raul!!
• A $20.00 Gift Certificate from Gresham Ford’s Service Department where we work on all makes and
models. Thank you Cher and team! Our children are our most precious resource and learning to read is more valuable than all the gold in Alaska.

Imagine a day where you could not read or living a life where it is a continual struggle. The 2011 Phone-A-Thon has pledged all the proceeds will fund reading programs for elementary students in the district. It is not
complicated just “Answer the Call…”  and do what you can because “reading matters”.

The Gresham Barlow Education Foundation is Helping to Ensure Tomorrow's Workforce is Ready

It's a skill sometimes taken for granted, but business owners know employees from all walks of life need it to be sucessful.  From the kitchen helper who reads the safety precautions relating to fire hazards in the kitchen , to the court clerk who selects information from carious statutes to provide assistance in cases where clarity of jurisprudence is required, the ability to read and understand text is critical for today's workforce. 

The Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation is dedicated to improving the skills of struggling readers in our schools - students who will be tomorrow's workers!  Each year, the GBEF's Phon-A-Thon raises money for the Learn to Read program.  Through the program, under-performing readers in all eleven elementary schools are identified in kindergarten or first frade and provided extra support to improve reading ability.  Our efforts are paying off!  Nine out of ten students served in the first year of the program showed documented growth in reading levels ranging from one to three levels.

The Foundation will hold its 2011 Phon-A-Thon February 21st thru 24th.  Over the course of four evenings, student volunteers will phone parents of students in the district and other community members to ask them for a cash donation in support of the Learning to Read Campaign. 

During the Phon-A-Thon, the Foundation is once again partnering with Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce member Gresham Ford.  Contributors who donate $40 or more will receive a $20 gift certificate toward service through the Gresham Ford Quick Lane (they provide maintenance work on All Makes and All Models) as well as a FREE DVD of the Tails of Abbygail Volume One and will have the opportunity to choose one book per child thanks to Books 4 Giving. 

Last year's Phon-A-Thon raised funds for the Learning ro Read program with all of the funds going to the students.  However there is still much more to be done.  If you would like to make a donation, or become involved in the project, call the Foundation Office at 503-766-0008 for more information or simply visit http://www.gbefkids.org/ to make a pledge.