Date: October 24, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY VOLUNTEER CENTER
HOSTS ‘READ-TO-ME’ DAY

(AKRON, OHIO) – For the fourteenth consecutive year, United Way of Summit County Volunteer Center is coordinating “Read-To-Me” Day in cooperation with its Corporate Volunteer Council, other local businesses and organizations, and the Akron Public Schools.

On Wednesday, October 24, 320 Akron area classrooms took on a different atmosphere, as 169 volunteers from 30 local businesses and organizations came together to promote literacy. Childhood favorites were read to children in kindergarten through 3^rd grade.  In addition to reading, and in some cases donating a book, volunteers also answered students’ questions about their occupations. 

Participating companies and organizations are: A. Schulman; Advanced Elastomer Systems; Akron General Medical Center; Allstate Insurance, Akron Public Schools; BCG Company; Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company; Bridgestone/Firestone; Charter One Bank;

Akron Children’s Hospital; First Merit Bank; Goodrich Corporation De-Icing & Specialty Systems; Goodrich Power Systems; GPD & Associates; Harwick Standard; Kaiser Permanente, Chapel Hill; Kaiser Permanente, Fairlawn; Klais & Company; Lockheed Martin; Meaden & Moore; Ohio Edison Company; OMNOVA Solutions; PPG Industries; Sterling Jewelers; Summa Health Systems; The Akron Beacon Journal; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; United Way of Summit County; UPS; and United Way of Summit County’s Women’s Leadership Giving Society.

Bob Kulinski, President of United Way of Summit County, said, “By spearheading Read-To-Me day, we show these students and the community our strong support for literacy.  We’re grateful to these employers that allow their employees to participate, and I can speak from personal experience how much the children enjoy Read to Me Day and how gratifying it is to us readers."

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services.  For more information, call 330-762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org , or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.