We would like to extend our full gratitude to the Hernando De Soto Historical Society for supporting our Dive Into Reading program by giving a generous donation of $2,000! Thank you for all that you do to support education in our community through grants and scholarships. It is more than appreciated!
With help from dedicated community partners, Anna Maria Oyster Bar launched Dive Into Reading in the Summer of 2017. We invited rising 2nd and 3rd graders at local Title I elementary schools who were participants in the School District of Manatee’s Camp R.I.S.E. program to our restaurants for a hot breakfast, a group reading session, followed by one-on-one time reading with a mentor.
Dive Into Reading’s mission is to improve children’s reading levels to grade level proficiency, instill a love of reading, and combat “summer slide,” which tends to occur over summer break.
Over the past three years, we have received a tremendous amount of love from our community, and we are beyond thankful. Dive Into Reading has been recognized and received awards from the School District of Manatee County, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
We’re are officially gearing up for our third year, and in true AMOB style, growing bigger and better by expanding our program to include rising 1st graders! With this extension, we are expecting approximately 450 children! Of course, that also means we will need even more volunteer mentors, and registration is NOW OPEN for those interested in participating as mentors!
If you would like to volunteer for Dive Into Reading, please click here.
Thank you, again, Hernando De Soto Historical Society for your donation! Because of donors like you, and our volunteers, we are able to continue to help the children in our community find a love and passion for reading!
