our lifesong: Oregonians... your help is needed!

For those who don't know, SMART program(Start Making A Reader Today) is a reading program in elementary schools funded by the state (or was!). Children enrolled in this program are elected by their teachers. These children struggle in reading and often English is their 2nd language. With this program they spend a half hour a couple times a week with volunteers like me, who pick out with the child a book of their choice and read together. We encourage them, share our passion and love of reading and books, and get them excited about reading. I volunteered as a SMART reader for a time back at home and thoroughly enjoyed it and the kids. It was so neat to see their improvement over the weeks spent with them and see their self-confidence grow. This is something I am so passionate about! The ability to read is foundational to learning. A child's education is dependent upon their ability to read!

I found this very disturbing email in my inbox today:

Dear Hannah,

SMART's state funding has been cut. We need your immediate help to restore it!

While 93% of funding for SMART comes from private individuals, businesses and grants, the remaining 7% comes from the State of Oregon. But our funding has been removed from the 2009-11 budget. This week, please call or email legislators and urge them to restore it.
SMART - State Budget Talking Points, May 20, 2009

Fund SMART! Please restore SMART's appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget. These funds allow SMART to purchase take-home books for more than 7,500 K-3 students in the program over two years.
In 2008, SMART took significant steps to reduce operating expenses. The organization reduced its budget by $1 million in order to become more sustainable and reach more children in the long-term.
Earlier this year, due to the recession the executive team took voluntary pay cuts and SMART has reduced staffing levels at headquarters by an additional 30 percent. SMART did this to ensure reading support to more than 7,200 Oregon kids would not be interrupted this school year.
However, if you do not support SMART's appropriation request, they will be forced to reduce service to more than 500 children.
Reading is the foundation for learning. If kids don't learn to read, they can't read to learn. SMART has a 17-year record of success in helping kids who need it most learn to read.
Please restore SMART's appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget.