Literacy Project Foundation Graduates Reading Super Stars

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - April 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Newport Beach, CA (March 27, 2013) – Literacy Project Foundation (LPF) hosted a special ceremony at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo to congratulate 18 students who graduated from LPF’s 30-hour reading program. LPF Master Teacher Paul Backus and special guest Austin Herrmann, son of Yard House CEO/President Harald Herrmann, presented each student with a certificate of achievement to recognize their efforts.  

Each student was rewarded with a copy of the book Bowregarde, written by Austin Herrmann’s late grandmother Fran Creegan as a gift for Austin when he was nine-years-old. Harald Herrmann published this story as a tribute his late mother-in-law and his late wife Kathie and donated 6,000 copies to Literacy Project Foundation to gift to participating students upon graduation. As a special treat for the graduates, Austin (now 17-years-old) read Bowregarde aloud to the group. his winter LPF serviced 228 struggling readers at no cost in 12 schools throughout the Anaheim, Capistrano and Long Beach school districts. LPF hosts graduations at the culmination of each program to inspire students to utilize their new reading skills and continue on a literate path to fulfill their future dreams. Upon graduation, documented pre-post testing results prove significant measureable growth in reading skills levels of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders who were performing well below English proficiency standards. Orange County Department of Education recently completed an executive data summary stating that LPF’s program, The New Phonics Game, provides an average growth of half of a grade level over the course of the program.

Viejo Elementary, a K-5 dual-immersion school, embraced Literacy Project Foundation’s program with open arms. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Principal Doug Kramer presented Backus with a Viejo Elementary School sweatshirt to show his appreciation. Backus, who started teaching with LPF this winter, saw a great improvement in his students. “LPF’s program allows learning through repetition in a fun way. The kids think they are just playing games, but they are really gaining important skills in the end,” stated Backus.

With plans to make a greater impact on illiteracy in 2013, Literacy Project Foundation will host their 4th Annual “What Dreams Are Made Of” benefit luncheon on Wednesday, September 25 at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach to raise funds to provide their reading programs statewide. Tickets for the 11:30 am luncheon are $100 per person and premiere sponsorships are also available. Please call (949) 721-1319 for more information.

About Literacy Project Foundation

Literacy Project Foundation’s vision is to bring the gift of literacy to children as a foundational learning element to help achieve their personal dreams. Their mission is to enable at-risk and disadvantaged youth to increase their reading skill levels. The goal of the Foundation is to enable these children to become self-sufficient, productive and contributing members of our society. To do this, they access and enhance key phonic skills amongst struggling readers; promote learning in a fun, social and interactive environment; use proven methods to maximize the learning experience; develop increased self-confidence; and lead to self-sufficiency and economic success. For more information, visit www.literacyprojectfoundation.org.