Over 3,300 books provided to Reach Out and Read at Denver Health thanks to generous donation
July 17, 2020
Hundreds of young children visiting a Denver Health pediatrician’s office will receive a new or gently used book.
Reach Out and Read Colorado supports literacy in young children, particularly those 6 months – 5 years old. This program empowers health care providers to talk with parents of young children, especially those from low-income families, about the importance of reading aloud to ensure children are prepared for school.
The generous $10,000 gift from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) was made at the request of Dr. Patty Gabow, trustee of RWJF and former CEO of Denver Health, in honor of her mother-in-law Lisa. The gift ensures that over 3,300 books will be given to families visiting a Denver Health pediatrician. The program is intended as a pathway to encourage literacy in children by gifting them with developmentally appropriate books at each pediatric visit.
“As a practicing pediatrician and a longtime member of Reach Out and Read Colorado’s board, I am doubly grateful for this generous gift,” said Dr. Simon Hambidge, board chair of Reach Out and Read Colorado and Chief of Ambulatory Care Services at Denver Health. “It will help keep the flow of books and resources going for parents and their young children in their critical early years of brain development.”
Click here to learn more about Reach Out and Read Colorado. To make a donation to the program at Denver Health, visit our donate page.