Fowler Family Donates Books to ‘Reach Out and Read’ Program

MACOMB, Ill. – McDonough District Hospital Pediatric Clinic’s Reach Out and Read program received 146 new Usborne books as a result of a $575 donation led by James, Anna and Jordan Fowler. Several co-workers, friends and family of the Fowlers contributed to the donation to help make purchasing these books possible.

“My husband and I read a lot of books to our son Jordan, and during one of his well-visits we received a new book through the Reach Out and Read Program. We got home from the appointment and said we need to do something to help out this awesome program. It is so important to start reading to your kids early on, and we are grateful that we will receive several new books for Jordan over the next few years,” said Anna. “A big shout-out to my co-workers at the Elms for being so generous and to Andrea Thompson for helping order the Usborne books.”

Brought to the clinic in December 2017, the Reach Out and Read program promotes early literacy and school readiness by providing developmentally-appropriate books to pediatric patients starting at the six-month checkup through age five.

To learn more about supporting the MDH Reach Out and Read program contact the MDH Foundation office at (309) 836-1757.

About Reach Out and Read: Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization of medical providers who promote early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. The end goal of Reach Out and Read is to prepare all children to enter kindergarten ready to read, learn and succeed. The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary care intervention. This year, Reach Out and Read’s 20,000 volunteer medical providers will distribute 7 million new books to 4.5 million children at more than 6,100 healthcare locations in all 50 states.