Birmingham Rotaract

Rotary International (RI) will recognize The Rotaract Club of Birmingham’s signature service project, Ready 2 Read, as the 2009 International Winner of Outstanding Rotaract Projects.  Rotaract’s Ready 2 Read project has placed libraries in every second-grade classroom in the Birmingham City School system. Local club President V. J. Graffeo will present the project and accept the prestigious award on behalf of the club from RI President, D. K. Lee during the Rotaract Preconvention portion of RI’s 100^th Convention in Birmingham, England on June 19, 2009. 

“Receiving this award truly places a stamp of validation on our club’s efforts to improve literacy in Birmingham,” said Graffeo.  “As a relatively young Rotaract club within the world of Rotary, we are especially proud that our members’ diligent work has now gained international recognition.”

In announcing the award, RI President D.K. Lee of Seoul, Korea wrote, “Your experience with ‘Ready 2 Read’ will inspire Rotaractors around the world to continue their efforts to meet the needs of their communities.”  

In 2005, Rotaract chose literacy as its service project focus and targeted second-grade reading comprehension after studies showed that age group was a critical time in educational development. Rotaract then launched Ready 2 Read to give young students necessary tools to become better readers.  By the start of the 2008-2009 school year, Rotaract completed placing 15,000 books in the second-grade classrooms of Birmingham City Schools. With libraries now in all second-grade classrooms and “Reading Buddy” volunteers, Ready 2 Read continues to inspire 4,000 students each year to read. 

The first Ready 2 Read libraries were placed at Glen Iris Elementary School in October 2007.  According to Glen Iris Principal, Michael Wilson, PhD, independent reading has increased dramatically since the implementation of Ready 2 Read.

“The great thing about the classroom libraries is that they have expanded greatly the reading choices for our children,” Wilson said.  “They have broadened the spectrum of literature that is available with high interest texts that the children really like.  The students really like the independent feeling they get from choosing their own books to read.”

The total program cost for Ready 2 Read was $250,000.  Funds for the program were raised through the annual Rotaract Gala, membership contributions, sponsors and partners.  One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the Ready 2 Read program because Rotaract occurs no staff or overhead expenses in administering this project. 

The Downtown Rotary Club of Birmingham and Rotary International sponsor the Rotaract Club of Birmingham.  Downtown Rotary President, Bill Jones, said, “Speaking for all the members of The Rotary Club of Birmingham, we are exceedingly proud of, but not surprised by, the achievements of the Rotaract Club.  This award from Rotary International is an affirmation of their solidarity, their creativity, and their dedication to the ideal of service. Since their founding, they have continued to grow and carry out projects in our community that are outstanding.”