SMART Serving 9,000 Children in Need,
Adding Online Tools for Volunteers
7 October 2009, Portland, Ore. – SMART is gearing up to open programs throughout Oregon during the week of October 12. The organization’s 2009-10 goal is to open at 234 sites and share the joy of reading with 9,078 kids statewide. (See SMART service goals by county.)
“We are pleased to be partnering with 234 schools throughout Oregon, including 14 pre-kindergarten programs,” said Terry Shanley, SMART CEO. “Over the past 18 years, SMART’s success is due to more than 90,000 Oregonians who have a deep-seeded understanding of the importance of literacy in a young person’s life, and a willingness to help. Today SMART is ready to open at 183 of 234 sites and is seeking volunteers to fill the remaining open positions. You can help us reach our goal of serving 9,078 kids by stepping up to serve as a SMART Site Coordinator, Site Team Member or Reader.”
SMART expanded its volunteer opportunities to include teams of people delivering the program at SMART sites, in addition to individuals. To date SMART has recruited and trained 269 volunteers to run 183 sites and is seeking Site Coordinators and Site Team Members to open the remaining sites.
A primary organizational goal of SMART in 2009-10 is to increase efficiencies and further enhance the volunteer experience. Already this year the organization has improved training materials and honed program coordination processes. Further, it made available a host of online resources for volunteers including training videos, as well as an Intranet for materials distribution and real-time communication with site teams.
To sustain the program, individuals, companies and foundations are supporting SMART with a wide range of gifts. A $200,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust in September was high-level validation that SMART is a long term, sustainable nonprofit that continues to benefit children throughout Oregon. SMART continues to be a leader in innovative strategies to raise money and is the first Oregon nonprofit to implement a mobile giving program, where people can donate $5 with their cell phones by texting SMART to 90999.
In a survey of educators last spring, 97percent agreed that SMART was integral in helping kids gain confidence in their reading ability, which translates into real results in the classroom. “Our reading scores have slowly but steadily increased over the time we have had SMART,” said Pamela Irvine, principal of Adams Elementary School in Lane County. “Children also love going to have their special reading time.”
Visit SMART online at getsmartoregon.org to volunteer, donate and learn about statewide events.
ABOUT SMART® (START MAKING A READER TODAY)
SMART is a nonprofit that envisions an Oregon where every child can read and is empowered to succeed. We engage community volunteers to read one-on-one with K-3 children who need literacy support. Participating children also receive new books each month to keep and read with their families. Since 1992, thousands of SMART volunteers have been inspiring little readers through storytelling. Together with support from the community, we are building brighter futures for Oregonians big and small. Volunteer or donate today. Visit www.getsmartoregon.org or call 1-877-598-4633.
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More information:
Melissa Logan, Communications Manager, 503-937-4813, mlogan@getsmartoregon.org