HELENA, Mont. — Every year, KTVH and the Scripps Howard Fund partner with schools to increase literacy among underserved children. Last year, thanks to generous donations from viewers like you, 252 students at Broadwater Elementary School each received 10 books.
Learn more about how to donate and the impact below:
“Books are a good thing for you,” said Hannah Dudek, a third grader at Broadwater Elementary.
KTVH’s campaign raised a total of $16,380 to provide books to students last year, and they say that having better access to reading has made a big impact.
“I like mystery books, and it just keeps you wondering,” Xavier Kammerer, another third grader, said. “It is like in the future, I mean when you are an adult you gotta be able to read because you are going to be facing different parts of life where you have to read.”
“I like 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' because it is funny, and same with 'Dog Man' because it is like super creative,” fifth grader William Renshaw said.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, just 31% of fourth graders in the U.S. read at or above a proficient level, and that’s a huge reason your support can make a difference.
“It is so important to get books in these kiddos' hands. It not only helps them build their reading skills, but exposure to all kinds of literature is going to help them become stronger readers and also connect with their lives and what is going on in the world,” Kelly Connolly, Broadwater’s principal, said.
Students say reading is very important to them and an outlet from other things going on in their lives.
“It distracts you from other things, and it helps you learn,” said Murphy Koerten, a third grader.
“I would say it is a good opportunity to read good sentences and become a true artist,” Dudek said.
Your donations contribute to a book fair that students say they look forward to each year.
“I thought it was a pretty fun experience to get free books,” Kammerer said.
“It was super fun and big,” Renshaw added.
Students and staff also had a message to donors aside from a lot of thank-yous:
“This is a great opportunity for us,” Connolly said.
“It is a big deal in your life to read, and it will make a difference in your life in the future,” Kammerer said.
More information on how to donate can be found at this link or by scanning the QR code above.
