Our Rotary Club has established a non-profit, on-going literary advocacy program called READY! SET! READ! Open young minds to reading.

It is aimed at strengthening the reading skills of 4, 5, and 6-year old children in our community. This program also supports the worldwide effort by Rotary International to increase literacy.

Illiteracy and poor reading skills are significant problems both nationwide as well as in the Roseville community. Research has shown a strong correlation between early reading success and later academic success. An early ability to read is important for kids to get the most out of their schooling and develop the skills necessary to compete in the global society.

· The lack of ability and interest in reading is a major obstacle for children to do well in school and in later life. Program support will be directed to encourage schools, libraries and other organizations and activities engaged in teaching children to read.

· Individual initiatives will be designed to benefit children who need books, who need assistance and practice reading, who desire mentoring and those who want to increase their skills and expand their reading enjoyment.

Funds raised will be used to

· Buy books for children without books

· Provide grants to schools, libraries, churches or others who are working with children needing help in reading.

· Create reading and mentoring programs

· Fund "strive" scholarships for kids who take advantage of reading programs to improve reading ability

· Purchase computers, reading software and other furnishings for a reading room in the soon-to-be-expanded Roseville Library.