{"id":2727,"date":"2016-11-14T09:54:12","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T09:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ocfl.flywheelsites.com\/2016\/11\/lets-read-orange-county-initiative-launched-at-14th-annual-week-of-the-family-fun-day\/"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:12:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:12:15","slug":"lets-read-orange-county-initiative-launched-at-14th-annual-week-of-the-family-fun-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/2016\/11\/lets-read-orange-county-initiative-launched-at-14th-annual-week-of-the-family-fun-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Read Orange County Initiative Launched at 14th Annual Week of the Family Fun Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

The yearlong initiative is a partnership with Mayor Jacobs, Orange County Government, Orange County Public Library System, the Citizens\u2019 Commission for Children and Just 1 Book, a bookmobile that has distributed more than 500,000 books to children in Central Florida. The initiative plans to improve literacy by providing 1,000 new library cards to Orange County residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal of Let\u2019s Read is to ensure that all Orange County citizens know about our wonderful public library system, and that they\u2019re able to obtain a library card, which provides free access to an endless array of books, music, videos and other learning resources,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cEspecially for children who are learning to read, the library is such an important resource. The ability to read \u2013 and to enjoy reading \u2013 is so important. When we improve literacy, we improve opportunities for our young people and entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n

During her remarks, Mayor Jacobs spoke about the initiative\u2019s co-chair and the inspiration behind the Let\u2019s Read initiative, Just 1 Book founder Sarah Dewitz.<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah founded her nonprofit organization at the age of 10 after being moved by a newspaper article about poverty among children locally,\u201d Mayor Jacobs explained. \u201cShe reasoned that if families struggled to afford food and rent, they probably couldn\u2019t afford to buy books either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though only hoping to collect just one book from each student at her elementary school, Dewitz collected more than 13,000 books. Six years later, Just 1 Book has distributed more than 500,000 books to low-income neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

To help with the distribution of these books, Orange County donated a bus that now serves as the Just 1 Book bookmobile, allowing Dewitz and her family to collect and distribute more books throughout Central Florida.<\/p>\n

Orange County Library System representatives were on-site at the Mayor\u2019s Family Fun Day to assist citizens with setting up library cards.<\/p>\n

The theme of this year\u2019s Week of the Family was \u201cFamily \u2013 A Team Effort.\u201d Now in its 14th year, Week of the Family focuses on creating family-centered events in order to strengthen and celebrate Orange County families throughout the first week of November.<\/p>\n

As part of Week of the Family, the Mayor\u2019s Family Fun Day is a free, four-hour event at Jay Blanchard Park providing guests with live entertainment, carnival-like games, crafts and more.<\/p>\n

At the event, Mayor Jacobs announced the winners of the \u201cMy Family is a Team\u201d essay contest:<\/p>\n