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From: JALEH.BEHROOZI@nifl.gov
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1303] Media Advisory
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COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Heather Valentine
October 4, 2002 202-225-4527
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
James Earl Jones, Theo Lion to Testify on
Promoting Literacy Partnerships that Work
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Tuesday, October 8, 2002, the Education Reform
Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), will hold a hearing
on "Literacy Partnerships that Work" at 10:00 a.m. in room 2175 of the
Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will highlight companies
that have established partnerships to improve the reading skills of
children of all ages.
The witnesses will testify on programs they support, ranging from
providing books to children to instructional programs designed to teach
adults to read. Actor James Earl Jones serves as the National Literacy
Spokesman for Verizon, which encourages literacy through the Verizon
Reads program. Ivan Seidenberg, the president and CEO of Verizon, will
also testify on the program, which encourages company employees to
volunteer as reading tutors and mentors. The subcommittee will also
hear from Mike Rawlings, the president and chief concept officer of
Pizza Hut, a company that encourages children to read through its Book
It! Program, which serves 20 million students in 47,000 public and
private schools, making it the largest reading incentive program in the
nation.
Judith Stoia, executive producer of the PBS children's series "Between
the Lions," will testify on the importance of teaching concepts such as
phonological awareness, language development, alphabet knowledge, and
early writing to children. Theo Lion, one of the stars of the PBS
show, will accompany her. Finally, Ralph Kuebler, the executive vice
president for the MNBA Foundation, which supports literacy through its
Excellence in Education Grants Program, will discuss how the grant
program has increased the quality of education in Delaware.
Improving literacy among adults and children requires a cooperative
effort between the public and private sector. This year, President
Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law. The Reading First
initiative, one of its key components, encourages states and local
schools to establish reading programs based on scientific research for
all children in kindergarten through Grade 3. Under the President's
leadership, federal funding for reading programs has been tripled from
$300 million in FY 2001 to $900 million in FY 2002.
Please contact Heather Valentine at (202) 225-4527 if you have any
questions about the hearing or media arrangements.
# # # # #
WITNESS LIST
Mr. James Earl Jones
Actor and Literacy Spokesperson for Verizon
Mr. Ivan Seidenberg
President and Chief Executive Officer
Verizon
Mr. Ralph Kuebler
Executive Vice President
MBNA Foundation
Wilmington, Delaware
Mr. Mike Rawlings
Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer
Pizza Hut, Incorporated
Dallas, Texas
Ms. Judith Stoia
Executive Producer
"Between the Lions"
Boston, Massachusetts
Location: 2175 Rayburn House Office Building. 10 a.m. (October 8, 2002)
Contact: 202-225-4527 recorded schedule 202-226-2026
To view live web cast http://edworkforce.house.gov/schedule.htm
Jaleh Behroozi Soroui
National LINCS Director
National Institute for Literacy
1775 I street, Suite 730
Washington DC, 20006
Phone: 202/233-2039
FAX: 202/233-2050
www.nifl.gov/lincs
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