Latest news with #ReadingProgram
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Paid family leave is a win-win for Florida
Recently, I met a young man I'll call 'Lucas,' who had received a full scholarship to play football at the University of Miami — but he was disqualified because his GPA was too low. Why? Because he couldn't read. What was once a bright future for Lucas and his family is now uncertain. And while his story is tragic, it's not unique. Earlier this year, the Education Recovery Scorecard ranked Florida 45th in the nation for reading scores — putting our students three-quarters of a grade level behind. I've dedicated my career to helping kids like Lucas improve their lives by developing reading skills. But I can only do that by ensuring my team of teachers, mentors, and para-educators — many of them single mothers — can balance their work and personal lives without risking a paycheck. Since I founded the H.U.G. Reading Program 10 years ago to help kids in Florida and beyond learn to read, we've hired thousands of employees who welcomed new babies, said goodbye to aging parents, or faced personal and family emergencies. From day one, we offered paid family and medical leave — not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's good business. If you want productive employees, you need happy, healthy, loyal people who are committed to and engaged with their work. That means giving them time to care for themselves and their families, so they can return refreshed and ready to teach. At H.U.G., paid leave policies led to fewer absences, lower turnover, and reduced health care costs. One study found that replacing an employee can cost up to 150% of their annual wages. Another financial analysis of more than 10,000 businesses found that those offering paid leave saw 4.6% higher revenue and 6.8% greater profit per full-time employee. In fact, for every dollar invested in supporting employees, manufacturing and tech companies saw respective returns of $2.57 and $2.64. In the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Acts (FMLA) provides protections for employees during times of personal and family health crises. The 1993 federal law allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical reasons, ensuring that their job and health insurance benefits are not affected. Florida businesses are generally required to follow FMLA rules, if they have at least 50 employees. Yet not all businesses in Florida offer paid leave — because they don't have to. That's a problem. Raising children in our state costs families up to $17,500 per child, per year, pushing many parents into the workforce. Without paid leave, many mothers must choose between work and family. But if Florida women participated in the workforce at the same rate as women in states that offer paid family leave, there would be 348,000 more workers and $12.8 billion in additional wages earned in our state each year. Family-friendly policies also give parents the time to engage with their children's education — fostering academic success that builds a stronger, more competitive workforce and economy for Florida's future. Paid family and sick leave is a smart investment — not just in business, but in our next generation. By ensuring Floridians don't have to choose between their jobs and their families, our state can thrive — academically, economically, and nationally. Across Florida are millions of kids just like Lucas, who — with the right support — can achieve their dreams. I urge state policymakers to expand paid family leave for all Floridians — before it's too late. Janine Broussard is the founder of the H.U.G. Reading Program and lives in Palm Beach.
Hamilton Spectator
14-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington Public Library's Summer Reading Club returns
Burlington Public Library's Summer Reading Club returns for 2025 this month. The program has inspired local youth to read during their summer break for more than 50 years. It's free to participate for anyone up to 17 years of age. From June 28 to Aug. 24, young readers set their own weekly reading goals and strive to achieve them. Participants can visit their nearby branch every week with their reading club tracker and check in with library staff. Share what you've read to receive a weekly prize and a ballot for a chance to win a (Burlington Public Library (BPL) prize pack during three draws throughout the summer. To keep the momentum going over the 12-week program, library staff send freshly curated staff picks to participants every week, along with a friendly reminder to check in. 'When kids keep reading during the summer, they hold on to the skills they've worked so hard to build over the school year,' said BPL Chief Executive Officer Lita Barrie. 'A simple reading goal can make all the difference — helping kids stay sharp, feel confident, and head back to school ready to learn.' For more information and to register, visit the Summer Reading Club page at Burlington Public Library's website . Suggested book lists, club events and tips are available on the website. BPL spokesperson Lauren Arkell said the Summer Reading Club had 2,432 registered participants last year. In 2022 and 2023, the program was open to adults and youth with an all-ages Summer Reading Club during COVID, and had 3,123 and 2,848 registered participants respectively. Arkell said the earliest mention of a Summer Reading Program in BPL's annual reports was in 1972.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PeoplesBank awards $10K to support Springfield Library summer programming
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library's 2025 Summer Reading Program, 'Level Up At Your Library.' The funding will allow the library to expand programming and outreach efforts at its nine branches and through partnerships with local organizations. The initiative aims to boost participation and engagement among children, teens, and adults across the city. 'We are very grateful to PeoplesBank for their stalwart support of the Library,' said Matt Blumenfeld, Executive Director of the Springfield Library Foundation. 'PeoplesBank's investment matches funds that comes directly from the Library Foundation and will provide the City Library with critical resources to expand outreach and impact of this vital and fun program.' This year's theme, 'Level Up At Your Library,' encourages community members to collectively reach a goal of one million minutes read over the summer. The program also aims to register more than 3,000 participants. 'This summer our mantra is One Million Reading Minutes,' said Rachel Gravel, the Library's Manager of Adult & Youth Information Services. 'We have set an ambitious goal and want to increase participation in the program to 3,000 children, youth and adults this summer.' Matt Bannister, PeoplesBank's Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, presented the grant to the foundation. 'Our commitment to the community is demonstrated through volunteerism and financial support and we see this grant as an investment in encouraging and inspiring new generations of life-long learners and readers. We are proud to support the Library Foundation and, in turn, the City Library to expand their reach and impact.' The Summer Reading Program will begin in June with kickoff events for all ages, including a system-wide adult summer reading launch on June 12 at the Mason Square Branch. The season will wrap up with a city-wide End of Summer Celebration on August 23. Activities funded by the grant include music classes, musical petting zoos, the Story City series, mobile arcade games, virtual reality experiences, role-playing and board game clubs, BINGO, and escape rooms. Children and teens who sign up will receive a free book of their choice, and participants will be eligible for weekly prizes as they track their reading progress. All events and activities are free and open to the public. More information, including a full schedule, is available on their website. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
