Save the Children’s ‘100 Days of Reading’ Campaign kicks off in Santa Monica with a lighting of the Pacific Wheel

Summer’s Better with Books! Save the Children’s 100 Days of Reading Campaign to Keep Kids Reading, Learning all Summer Long

Save the Children is launching its annual summer reading campaign in the United States, 100 Days of Reading, to give children fun ways to keep reading and learning this summer, while also helping provide support and resources to kids in rural America most impacted by inequality. Pacific Park will light the Pacific Wheel red and white on Wednesday, June 1, to bring awareness to Save the Children’s campaign which kicks off from Santa Monica Beach.

Starting today until September 8, International Literacy Day, every link that is clicked or QR code that is scanned by Save the Children supporters will unlock donations of books, educational materials, and healthy food for kids living in some of America’s most impoverished, rural communities. Children living in rural poverty face significant, persistent and unique challenges such as hunger, low education outcomes, and lack of access to opportunity. Every day, Save the Children works to ensure these children have a healthy, strong foundation to thrive as learners and in life.

This special lighting event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, June 1. The Ferris wheel lights can be seen from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening. Enjoy watching the light program online at www.pacpark.com/live.

WHAT:
Special Lighting of the Pacific Wheel for Save the Children

WHEN:
Wednesday, June 1
dusk (around 8 PM) to midnight

WHERE:
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

In addition to unlocking donations, supporters can find educational tips and activities at SavetheChildren.org/READ to help ensure the children in their lives continue engaging in reading and stay active all summer long. Here, children and families will find a library of activities and word games featuring their favorite characters from beloved children’s books.

Supporters can also join the Save the Children Action Network in their efforts by asking policymakers to expand access to home visiting programs. Home visits are offered to at-risk families from pregnancy through their child’s entry into kindergarten, ensuring children have the best start in life. A key component of many home visits is reading – making sure children have access to books and literacy from early on, and encouraging families to read with their children on a daily basis.

To celebrate the launch of the campaign today, Save the Children is hosting a kickoff event on the beach in Santa Monica, California. Presented by S.C. Johnson, the event will include a larger-than-life sand installation as well as a range of family-friendly activities and giveaways to reinforce that summer is better with books. Save the Children will also light the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on the evening of the campaign launch. Following the kickoff event, Save the Children and its corporate partners will continue to promote “Summer’s Better with Books” by hitting the road on a nationwide bus tour, which will bring fun activities, games, and essential resources to kids in need across America.

“No matter where summer takes you, it’s better with a book. But nearly two out of three low-income kids don’t have any books in their homes,” said Betsy Zorio, Vice President of U.S. Programs for Save the Children. “And we know children who own books are 20 percent more likely to be more proficient readers. That’s why Save the Children is so grateful to our 100 Days of Reading partners and supporters for helping us ensure kids who need it the most are able to have access to books.”

100 Days of Reading is generously presented by T.J. Maxx, SC Johnson, Penguin Random House, Brightly, Good360, Vooks, Mattel, and Colgate – as well as HarperCollins Publishers, Nickelodeon, Once Upon a Farm, Amazon, the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation, Teddy Grahams, Zulily, American Girl, Kinder, Sunrays, Encantos, IKEA, and media partners Discovery RISE, and SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Storyline Online. To learn more, visit SavetheChildren.org/READ.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Feature image courtesy of @miguelruedabautista