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D.E.A.R. in the Spotlight
Granting Families the Time to Read, NEA Gives Thousands

Tell the kids to turn off the TV, put away the video games and turn down the iPods.  Millions of students, parents, teachers, librarians and other education support professionals, celebrities and athletes will Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.), reminding families to find 30 minutes daily for reading together.

In celebration of National D.E.A.R. Day-and as part of its commitment to promote children's literacy and motivate readers of all ages-the National Education Association, with support from HarperCollins Children's Books, offers teachers and librarians across the country a new funding opportunity called the D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards.

"In the time that it takes to watch a rerun of Friends, parents can get a book off the shelf and engage their children in reading fun," said NEA President Reg Weaver.  "To increase access to books, the D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards provide funding for public schools and libraries-and the communities they serve-to purchase books, supplies and materials so that everyone can make reading a family affair."

More than 20 percent of U.S. children live in poverty and on average economically disadvantaged students have one or two age appropriate books in their homes.  Among low-income families, 61 percent of children have no books at all.  The D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards will help enrich book collections in classroom, school and public libraries and increase access to titles that kids will want to drop everything for and read.

The 2.8 million-member NEA, the nation's largest professional employee organization, and HarperCollins developed D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards to provide financial support to organizations who serve students in an effort to rebuild public school libraries.  The organizations are awarding 20 grants totaling $10,000.  The grants will be used for projects developed and executed by young people.  The competition received an unprecedented 1,500 entries.

Please see the attached list of winners for this year's D.E.A.R. Bookshelf Awards.  For more information, visit the NEA  Web site.

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