Celebrity Read is an annual program that deploys more than 400 volunteers to 30 schools in the districts encompassing Newark, Irvington, Orange, East Orange and South Orange. Readers can select one or more dates to read to students starting on February 1, 2005 and ending on March 11, 2005. Readers come from all walks of lift, but do need to be at least 18 years of age and a high school graduate. Celebrity Read was started in 1990 by the United Way of Essex and West Hudson to reach out to urban students during Black History month. The goal was to bring primarily African-American men into the lives of children who may lack an appropriate role model and mentor to encourage them in their academic pursuits. By bringing these men and subsequently women and generally people of all races, cultures and ethnicities, children could learn about a variety of profesions and find out about the knowledge, skills and abilities they would need to possess to enter into that profession. Readers select the schools and grades of their choice. Readers report at 8:30 a.m. and after reading to at least two classrooms of students usually depart before noon. For further information and a complete schedule visit our website at www.uwewh.org.

Sponsored by United Way of Essex and West Hudson.

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