RORKC Celebrates Dr. Seuss Week

Happy 112th Birthday Dr. Seuss!

To celebrate the life and literary accomplishments of Dr. Seuss, Reach Out and Read KC had a number of local celebrities read in our clinics.

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Gary Amble from KCTV5 at Samuel U. Rodgers
Lisa Teachman from KCTV5 at Samuel Rodgers Westside

 

 

 

 

CMH-PCC 2-29-16 (4) Karli Ritter
Karli Ritter from Fox4KC at Children’s Mercy Hospital-Broadway Clinic

 

 

Baby & Child- Dr. Suess 2016- Linda Wagar FOX-4
Linda Wagar from Fox4KC at Baby & Child Associates

 

 

CMH-PCC 2-29-16 (1) Mark Alford
Mark Alford from Fox4KC at Children’s Mercy Hospital-Broadway Clinic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMH West-2016-Lewis Diuguid
Lewis Diuguid from the Kansas City Star at Children’s Mercy Hospital West

 

Thank you to all our special readers, our amazing clinics, and to our volunteer readers who help us celebrate reading aloud every day!

Green Eggs & Ham Speakers Announced

The 9th Annual Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast benefiting Reach Out and Read Kansas City is quickly approaching, Friday, March 6th, 7:30-9:00am at the Sheraton Crown Center Exhibit Hall. In addition to being a lot of fun, this is a hugely important event for us. Last year, your support provided a fourth of our annual budget and helped us provide 76,495 new books and prescriptive early literacy advice to 29,836 at-risk children and families.

 

Tickets are on sale now and going fast – get yours todayIndividual tickets starting at $60, must be purchased by Friday, February 27th. Register to sponsor a table or make a tax-deductible donation here

 

We are thrilled to announce this year’s speakers, entertainment, and guests:

 

Keynote Speaker Guest Reader Guest Reader Master of Ceremonies
David Warm Bryan Busby Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner John Holt
Executive Director,
Mid-America Regional Council
KMBC-TV Deputy Executive Director,
Kansas City Public Library
FOX-4 TV

 

Complimentary parking is provided. Registration and coffee service will begin at 7:00. As you arrive enjoy musical entertainment from students of St. Teresa’s Academy and Rockhurst High School. Rumor has it Cat and Fish from The Coterie’s upcoming production of “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” will also be making a special appearance.

 

Come join the party, and do a good deed. Books at home help kids to succeed! 

 

For more information please contact Executive Director Mark Mattison at 913-588-3073 or mmattison@kumc.edu.

A Great Experience: Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast

After months of preparation, Green Eggs and Ham finally took place this past Friday. As a staff-member for Reach Out and Read KC, I was able to experience the event from the very start to the very finish, and what a transformation it was! We turned the Westin Ballroom into a whimsical, rhythmical, magical place, bringing the magic of Dr. Seuss to life. It was my first time at Green Eggs and Ham so even though we arrived at the Westin bright and early at 5am to help set up, I was too excited to even think about being tired.  For months I heard stories about the breakfast from years past, and I knew that after all the planning and work we put into this year’s breakfast, it was supposed to be bigger and better than years past.

 

As guests enjoyed a lovely, gourmet version of green eggs and ham, they were entertained by Bryan Busby and Reverend Adam Hamilton who hysterically read the actual book to the audience. I definitely was not expecting those voices out of Bryan Busby! He read the story in an array of hilarious voices from Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Chewbacca and Sponge Bob Square Pants. I stood in the back of the room to watch the action take place, and couldn’t contain my laughter, they did a wonderful job making the entire room smile. After the audience was moved to laughter, Superintendent Jim Hinson  gave a captivating and eye opening speech about why the kids of Kansas City need our help. After his emotional speech, our Executive Director Megan took the stage and gave a wonderful speech about the importance of children’s literacy. I hope all the guests in attendance were as moved as I was listening to these speeches, they both really hit home and spoke about how every child deserves to reach their full potential.

 

Once  the speeches were over, it was time to wrap up the breakfast. I don’t think an hour and a half has ever gone by so fast before. When the last of the guests made their way out of the ballroom, it was time to pack up everything and head back to the office to see the rough estimate of how much money was raised. As it turns out, the 8th Annual Green Eggs and Ham breakfast really was bigger and better than any other year! We raised over $87,000 dollars, which is a huge accomplishment for Reach Out and Read KC. I am extremely happy that not only did I get to experience the best Green Eggs and Ham yet, but that I was able to contribute to the preparation and planning. The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast will be an experience I will never forget and I am beyond excited that all the money raised will go toward supporting kids in need!