GENEVA READS INC
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to inspire a culture of lifelong reading by providing books and creating shared experiences.
About This Cause
Geneva Reads -- Inspiring a culture of lifelong reading Our history Geneva Reads got its start in the fall of 2007 when the Wyckoff Family Foundation generously offered to provide funds for books for Geneva children. Many organizations in Geneva were working to promote literacy, and this grant provided the inspiration to coordinate the separate efforts and establish a communitywide reading initiative. The Geneva City School District, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Geneva Public Library, Literacy Volunteers and others were represented at those early meetings. A community’s literacy level affects everyone. We are excited by the growth we have seen since Geneva Reads was founded. Geneva Reads started a strategic planning process in 2011. It included electing a board of directors and paved the way for hiring a part-time executive director in 2012. These changes have been marked by innovation and enthusiasm. They have led to expanded programming and efforts to engage the whole community in literacy — a true quality-of-life issue. Our programming includes (inaugural year in parentheses): Book Fest — This annual free event at the Geneva Community Center brings 30 or more organizations and agencies together, each with a book-related booth and activity for children. (2009) Burma Shave signs — More than 3 dozen sets of signs with literacy related quotes have been put up on lawns around town; we add a few new ones each year. (2017) Early Starts — We provide books for children participating in a local church's newborn program, the Boys and Girls Clubs' Toddle Time program; we do our best to fulfill other child-centric programs' requests for books. Community Bookshelves — Free, gently used books are available throughout Geneva on our brightly painted Community Bookshelves, which are situated where families wait for appointments, such as the Department of Social Services and the pediatric offices of Finger Lakes Medical Associates (FLMA), and other sites where children are served: the Community Lunch Program, St. Peter’s Church, The Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Geneva Housing Authority, Child & Family Resources, Happiness House, the Geneva city school district office, the Food Pantry, the Geneva Community Center and the city’s three elementary schools. (2007) Community Read — Each March, Geneva shines the spotlight on books and literacy during Community Read Month, through the distribution of theme-related books and the hosting of events. Past themes have included: The environment, immigration, Alzheimer’s, bullying, slavery, water. In 2021-22, we tried something new: A year-round look at birds and birding. We are now working on 2024 programming related to the eclipse. (2009) Geneva Reads at WIC — From 2013 to 2020, volunteers attended every session of Women Infant and Children’s session, held at The Presbyterian Church in Geneva, providing reading support and inspiration to families and books for their children. It was suspended during Covid and risked elimination because WIC found it was reaching more families virtually. We used a one-on-one, home-delivery program for a while, but WIC resumed in Sept. 2023 and is slowly regrowing the program. Healthy Readers — Each child receives a new bilingual book at each of 12 well-child visits from age 2 weeks to 5 years at Finger Lakes Medical Associates and Finger Lakes Community Health. (2013, expanded and renamed from its original format, Books at Birth); 5-year book added in 2021; Melissa & Doug magnetic alphabets added to 3 YO visit in 2022. I PAWS to Read — Begun by board member and retired teacher Anne Dinan, this program initially paired volunteers with children during family night at West Street School. At the height of the pandemic, we switched to individual Zoom sessions before being able to return to in-person sessions during the 2022-23 school year. We’ve seen some remarkable success and hired Anne as a consultant to run the program. (2020) Outreach — Volunteers staff our big red tent at the Geneva Farmers’ Market and other community events, providing books and sometimes activities for the children to enjoy. (2012) We also provide books and educational toys (basic blocks, wooden puzzles, etc.) for therapists to deliver as part of the county’s Early Intervention program, when money is available. We are part of the First 1,000 Days and Baby Box programs and others for which we provide books. Project Sweet Sleep — Each homeless child served by Family Promise of Ontario County received a drawstring bag, a book, a blanket and a stuffed buddy. (2019-2021); suspended when it was clear the need was already being met. Random Acts for Reading — Board members have access to a supply of new small board books to offer to a child they see waiting in line, waiting to be served at a restaurant, or wherever a reading diversion would be welcome. (2018) 6th Grade Reading — Volunteers meet with sixth-grade students 2 mornings a week to help them reach grade level with their reading skills. Ready to Read — Each child in Head Start, Universal Pre-Kindergarten and the Agri-Business Child Development center receives 18 books a year to enjoy as part of the classroom curriculum and then to take home and share with their parents. Take-home activities have been included with several of the books since 2016. (2007) School-Age Book Distribution — Elementary school children can choose a free book at their school’s book fairs (2016); every child who registers for kindergarten receives a special hardcover book. (2007) In 2023, we’re adding kindness picture books for 1st and 2nd-graders. (When we couldn’t do the book fair portion of this program in the spring of 2020, we delivered books to homes.) Summer Slide Book Fairs — All children attending the city school district’s summer school program (which is both enrichment and remedial) are invited to pick 10 books they’d like to own to read over the summer. (2016) (In 2020, we took orders and delivered books because of Covid; we were happy to be able to return to the summer school site in 2021. Geneva children who don’t attend summer school (K-7) are invited to come at specific times after classes. Geneva Reads StoryWalk — In 2022, we added a 17-station StoryWalk to the city’s lakefront; families walk along the lake reading an entire picture book spread across a 1/3 of a mile route. Each station also includes a colorful number magnet, identifying which station it is and helping to teach young children numbers. The book changes several times a year. Community Bookshelves -- We stock about a dozen bookshelves located at sites that families frequent, including local barbershops. Anne Schuhle, Executive Director All Geneva Reads events are free and open to the public. Contacts and social media: Facebook, Instagram, www.genevareads.org (a work in progress) asgenevareads@gmail.com