PULLMAN – The WSU creamery is joining a national fundraising effort to create awareness about the education crisis in the lower socioeconomic levels in the U.S.
Jumpstart, a nonprofit organization focused on intervening early in the lives of at-risk children, has created a campaign to help raise public awareness about the early education gap that exists between income levels. The goal of the organization is to raise money to fund early education programs for underserved children.
The Read for the Record campaign raises funds to support the organization’s programs. The WSU community understands that early learning experiences are crucial to the growth and development of young children and in response to this, Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe has created a fundraising team with the Read for the Record online campaign website. Donations to help children can be made by sponsoring Ferdinand’s.
In addition to the online sponsorship, on Sept. 20, Ferdinand’s will host an open house event. This year’s campaign book, “The Story of Ferdinand”, will be read each hour from 10a.m. to 3 p.m, by community members to local school children. Ferdinand’s encourages people of all ages to come hear the story and register to be counted toward the official record.
The event will also hold a book drive for the Pullman Head Start program. Anyone who brings in a new book will receive a $1 ice cream cone coupon redeemable at Ferdinand’s.
In an effort to facilitate follow-up discussion of the story, Ferdinand’s will be conducting a drawing contest for pre- and elementary school-age children. The pictures will be on display during the week of Sept. 24-29. There visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. A $5 coupon to Ferdinand’s will be awarded to two winners who draw a picture with a caption of their favorite part of “The Story of Ferdinand”.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record provides an opportunity for everyone in the United States to make early education a national priority. Last year, Read for the Record raised more than $500,000 to support the organization’s early education work.
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is not limited to large events. Any child and adult can participate just by sitting down to read -maybe even under a shady tree, just where Ferdinand, the story’s main character, would want to be.
More information and access to Ferdinand’s fundraising site, visit http://www.wsu.edu/creamery/.
