As you may have read in Megan's latest OOM post, kids across the globe are doing a stellar (pun intended) job logging their summer reading minutes and are well on their way toward setting a new world record. This year's Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge promises to be our most successful yet—and we couldn't have done it without the help of the Governors and Governors' Spouses, 46 of whom signed on as "Reading Ambassadors" to help promote the importance of summer reading in their respective states.
For the sixth year in a row, Scholastic is donating 500 books to the elementary school of each Reading Ambassador's choice; many of the Ambassadors also opt to host a summer reading event for kids at a local elementary school or library.
"It’s up to us—the parents, teachers, and community leaders across the country—to come together and send a powerful message to our children about the importance and joy of reading during the summer," said Oklahoma First Gentleman Wade Christensen, Chairman of the Spouses’ Leadership Committee for the National Governors Association. "By putting books into the hands of children nationwide, we are encouraging them to spark their imaginations. At the same time, they will develop their vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking skills. Whether reading independently or with their parents, all that matters is that children are reading."
The following Governors and Governors’ Spouses are serving as Reading Ambassadors for the 2014 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. A huge thanks to all of them for their commitment to childhood literacy!
- Alabama – First Lady Dianne Bentley
- Alaska – First Lady Sandy Parnell
- Arizona – Governor Janice Brewer
- Arkansas – First Lady Ginger Beebe
- California – First Lady Anne Brown
- Colorado – Governor John Hickenlooper
- Connecticut – First Lady Cathy Malloy
- Delaware – First Lady Carla Markell
- Florida – First Lady Ann Scott
- Georgia – First Lady Sandra Deal
- Hawaii – First Lady Dr. Nancie Caraway
- Idaho – First Lady Lori Otter
- Illinois – Governor Pat Quinn
- Iowa – First Lady Christine Branstad
- Kansas – First Lady Mary Brownback
- Kentucky – First Lady Jane Beshear
- Louisiana – First Lady Supriya Jindal
- Maine – First Lady Ann LePage
- Maryland – First Lady Judge Katie O’Malley
- Michigan – First Lady Sue Snyder
- Mississippi – First Lady Deborah Bryant
- Missouri – First Lady Georganne Nixon
- Montana – First Lady Lisa Bullock
- Nebraska – First Lady Sally Ganem
- Nevada – First Lady Kathleen Sandoval
- New Hampshire – First Gentleman Tom Hassan
- New Mexico – First Gentleman Chuck Franco
- North Carolina – First Lady Ann McCrory
- North Dakota – First Lady Betsy Dalrymple
- Ohio – First Lady Karen Waldbillig Kasich
- Oklahoma – First Gentleman Wade Christensen
- Oregon – First Lady Cylvia Hayes
- Pennsylvania – First Lady Susan Corbett
- Rhode Island – First Lady Stephanie Chafee
- South Carolina – First Gentleman Michael Haley
- South Dakota – First Lady Linda Daugaard
- St. Thomas Virgin Islands – First Lady Cecile de Jongh
- Tennessee – First Lady Crissy Haslam
- Texas – First Lady Anita Perry
- Utah – First Lady Jeanette Herbert
- Vermont – Governor Peter Shumlin
- Virginia – First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe
- Washington – First Lady Trudi Inslee
- West Virginia – First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin
- Wisconsin – First Lady Tonette Walker
- Wyoming – First Lady Carol Mead
You can read the full press release announcing the Reading Ambassadors on our media room. For more information about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, please visit www.scholastic.com/summer.
Photos via Pennsylvania First Lady Susan Corbett and Alabama First Lady Dianne Bentley
