Read to Succeed and Cox Communications kick off 2022 summer reading program
PRESS RELEASE
Read to Succeed and Cox Communications kick off 2022 summer reading program
3,600 free books delivered to 600 Providence students with a $1,000 scholarship opportunity
Contact: David Guertin, Executive Director, 401-868-0365, david@readtosucceedri.org
PROVIDENCE, R.I., On Monday, June 6, 2022, Read to Succeed and Cox Communications delivered 3,600 free books to students at Bishop McVinney Catholic Elementary School, Community Preparatory School, Highlander Charter School, San Miguel School of Providence, and Sophia Academy to launch the largest summer reading program since its founding in 2018. Over the summer, 600 Providence students at these schools will take part in Read to Succeed, a unique literacy program that uses a $1,000 college scholarship incentive to promote recreational reading. The program helps to prevent the well-understood “summer learning loss” while building their financial pathway to college.
“Cox Communications has been our most important volunteer corporate partner, supporting Read to Succeed as we continue to expand. Welcoming more students into the program each year results in more books that need to get into their hands before the summer. Cox Communications ensures that we can grow and deliver on our mission,” stated David Guertin, Executive Director of Read to Succeed.
“Year after year, we remain impressed by the commitment of Read to Succedd to put books into the hands of students,” said Ross Nelson, region manager and senior vice president. “Their commitment to helping children stay connected to the wonders of learning over the summer months has undoubtedly made a prolonged impact on students, while also inspiring a love of reading. We are honored to be their long-standing partner.”
Starting at the home of Barbara Papitto, co-founder of Read to Succeed with her late husband Ralph Papitto, Cox Communications volunteers loaded 600 book bags filled with six books each onto their trucks for their journey across Providence. Over the course of four hours, books were delivered to each school in order to be distributed before the last day of school.
Read to Succeed has awarded 21,600 free books, opened more than 500 CollegeBound Saver accounts, and contributed nearly $2 million in college scholarships to Providence students since 2018. Students select six books to read over the summer from a diverse book selection list developed by their teachers. After completing each book, students take an online comprehension test. Upon completing all six books and tests, students receive a $1,000 scholarship in a CollegeBound Saver account, the state’s 529 tax advantage savings program. Read to Succeed was founded to encourage students to improve their reading skills over the summer, develop a lifelong enjoyment of reading, and create a pathway to college through scholarships earned at an early age. Students are able to participate every summer that they are enrolled at Read to Succeed’s partner schools, and can earn between $4,000 and $6,000 for college. The Papitto Foundation funds all administrative expenses so that 100% of charitable contributions to Read to Succeed support books and scholarships. Visit www.readtosucceedri.org to learn more or to make a contribution.
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, we proudly serve six and a half million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in1898 by Governor James M. Cox.
