[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ROLLING READERS TO THE RESCUE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fine work of 
one of the largest nonprofit children's programs in the great State of 
California, the Rolling Readers Volunteer Tutoring Program.
  Rolling Readers is one of the Nation's premier volunteer children's 
literacy organizations. Back in 1991, after realizing the benefits of 
reading aloud to his sons, San Diego resident Robert Condon began 
Rolling Readers by volunteering to read to children at a local homeless 
shelter. From this simple beginning, the Rolling Readers Tutoring 
Program was developed in partnership with the San Diego County Office 
of Education.
  Under executive director Condon, the Rolling Readers Program takes 
volunteer readers from the community and trains them to become weekly 
story-time readers for an hour each week at local schools and community 
organizations. A professional site coordinator is available to help the 
tutors succeed.
  Over 2000 Rolling Readers volunteers now read to and tutor 50,000 
children each and every week. That is 2,000 readers and 50,000 
children. Each volunteer in the Rolling Readers Program reads to the 
same group of children each week, establishing a continuity not only in 
tutoring but in inspiring minds, touching imaginations, developing 
language skills, and assuring a positive impact on the children's 
lives.
  Because of financial contributions to Rolling Readers from many 
individuals, both those who read to children and those who are not able 
to volunteer their time, the volunteer readers are also able to give 
new books to the children three times a year. Millions of dollars worth 
of new books have now been given, each book a gift from the volunteer 
to the child. Offices, phones, postage, printing, and delivery trucks 
are also donated. In these ways Rolling Readers is an organization 
unlike any other.
  The vision of Rolling Readers is very clear: We have a major crisis 
in our country. For 30 years literacy rates have been falling, with the 
biggest decline occurring amongst the population already in the bottom 
half in reading test scores. Spend a few minutes thinking that over and 
you will realize how devastating that situation is and how important is 
the work of the Rolling Readers volunteers.
  I am excited that the Rolling Readers Program is further expanding in 
my 50th Congressional District in San Diego. I salute this fine 
organization and its volunteers for the outstanding contribution they 
are making to our communities. What can happen for our kids through 
reading can be truly magical.

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