There’s an old saying that goes, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” In that spirit, more than a dozen Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine staff and faculty members recently volunteered at nearby James Madison Elementary School in Pasadena, reading books to students as part of Read Across America Week.
“This brings a love for reading,” said Elisa Perez, principal of Madison Elementary. “We want to instill in our kids that reading is fun. [KPSOM] has been helping us for the last year and a half, and we're excited about the partnership because our kids get exposure to what's outside of our little bubble of [elementary school]. That's important because exposure creates opportunities and options, and we want that for our kids.”
Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America is a nationwide celebration designed to encourage children to discover the joy of books and reading. Held each year around Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2, the weeklong event brings guest readers from community organizations and all walks of life into the classroom at schools across the country.
The KPSOM volunteers each had the option of bringing a children’s book of their own or choosing one from the school’s collection. The readers brought their individual dramatic flair to storytime, and some came specially dressed for the occasion: Facilities Manager Alfonso Farjeat suited up as Buzz Lightyear, while Dr. Joyce Javier, Associate Professor of Health Systems Science, wore her white coat in hopes of inspiring students’ interest in medicine.
