Mission
Rotary READ Fort Collins' (RRFC) mission is to foster a love of reading in elementary school-aged students, with a special focus on students in grades 4 through 6. The program appeals to all age groups, but there is a special emphasis on students in grades 4 through 6. This emphasis is given by the program to help instill good reading habits before students experience junior high school and high school demands.

A Unique Coalition
RRFC is a unique coalition of the four Fort Collins, Colorado, Rotary International Clubs (Fort Collins Rotary Club - chartered 1918; Fort Collins Rotary Club Foothills - chartered 1977; Fort Collins Rotary Club Breakfast - chartered 1989; and Fort Collins Rotary Club After Work - chartered 2002) , the Fort Collins Public Library, and the Poudre School District (Fort Collins, Colorado). The RRFC is comprised of representatives of all three coalition members. RRFC's activities (see below) focus on being an effective adjunct to educators' and library professionals' efforts to increase reading habits at an early age.

Goals

1. Place books in the hands of elementary school-aged students.
2. Enable elementary school-aged students in Fort Collins to personally experience a presentation by and meet an author who writes books that are popular with this age group.

1. Rotary READ Week (fall)
2. Author Workshops (spring)
3. Fundraising (summer)

• 1996: Outstanding Citizen Award from the Colorado Educational Media Association. RRFC is the only organization to ever have received this recognition.
• RRFC receives many messages from students, educators, and parents thanking RRFC for the gift certificate and/or the author visit.

• Goal: Have each student read (or have someone read to them) at least 15 minutes per day for one week.
• Program information, including forms to verify that 15 minutes per day of reading has been completed, is sent home with 100% of participating Poudre School District (PSD) elementary school students just before the week with supplemental information about the program available to teachers and media specialists. Information is also made available and distributed to charter school, private school, and home-schooled students and teachers through the Fort Collins Public Library and RRFC committee members.
• At the end of the week, students return the completed forms to their school's library or media center that certify that they have completed reading for 15 minutes per day for Rotary READ Week. Each form is signed by a parent or guardian. Each student returning a signed form receives a prize in recognition of their accomplishment.
• All returned forms are entered into a drawing for $10 gift certificates to local bookstores. Typically, 15% to 20% of the returned forms are awarded gift certificates. The gift certificates are awarded in special ceremonies appropriate for the school, including at awards assemblies, video ceremonies, and special classroom ceremonies. Each certificate is personally presented to the student by a Rotarian. Many students who receive gift certificates have never owned a book before.
• Rotary READ Week has been very successful in getting students to participate in the program. In 8 years, Rotary READ Week has had over 14,000 forms returned, with almost 10,000 from 1998 through 2002. Student participation has been increasing at an increasing rate.

• Goals:
  • Energize budding writers and readers, especially those in grades 4, 5, and 6, with personal knowledge of popular authors.
  • Give students an understanding of how books that they like are written.

• One to two noted authors make presentations each to 6 to 8 schools, public libraries, and/or private schools in the Fort Collins area. Authors are selected on the basis of their presentation ability and their writing reputation with RRFC's target student population. Well before each presentation, locations who will be hosting the author promote the author's books, encouraging students to read at least one book before the author arrives. This allows a connection to emerge at the presentation. Many authors also host young writer workshops if requested by the school. These workshops/presentations have proven to be very well received and motivating for students.

• Since 1995:
  • 100% of Poudre School District elementary schools have been offered an author visit at least once. 97% of all PSD elementary schools had accepted the offers.
  • Presentations have been made to a number of private schools and public libraries.
  • Most Fort Collins-area elementary school public, private and home schooled students have had the opportunity to see at least one author presentation before the students move on to junior high school.
  • Every Fort Collins Rotary Club has hosted an author program most years.

• RRFC is 100% self funded. No Rotary Club funding is used to support the program.
• Sources of funding:
  • BOGO Pizza Hut Card sales. Northern Colorado Pizza Hut has sponsored RRFC since the beginning by supporting the sale of annual discount cards for $10. All of the sale proceeds go to RRFC. Each year, sales exceed 1000 cards in the community and provide the primary funding for RRFC.
  • Individual Rotarian purchase of book gift certificates. Rotarians who want to encourage good reading habits purchase $10 gift certificates to award to students participating in Rotary Read Week.
  • Corporate Sponsors. Corporate sponsors other than Northern Colorado Pizza Hut provide other support, including media publicity and cash donations.