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Ossining early-childhood PTA reports $46,000 raised, 310,000 minutes logged in district readathon
Summary
Ossining Early Childhood PTA said volunteers created accounts for every student and logged 310,000 reading minutes over two weeks while raising $46,000; organizers partnered with the public library, local bookstores and Toys for Tots.
The Ossining Early Childhood PTA told the Board of Education on April 22 that its spring readathon raised $46,000 and that students logged roughly 310,000 minutes of reading during the two-week event.
PTA organizers said they created accounts for every student across the two early-elementary schools so students could participate even when parents could not log minutes, and that volunteers visited every self-contained special-education class and performed theatrical read-alouds. The PTA credited the approach with broadening participation.
An unnamed Early Childhood PTA representative said, “We raised $46,000 this year” and described the two-week reading total as “310,000 minutes.” The PTA also credited volunteers for behind-the-scenes work and named Jessica as the volunteer who uploaded accounts and visited special-education classes.
Organizers described a range of outreach and community events tied to the fund-raiser: a weekend celebration hosted with the Ossining Public Library that included literacy activities and book giveaways; a local bookstore participation program with Hudson Valley Books for Humanity; class- and grade-level parties and prize raffles; and recognition for top classes and students.
The PTA said it collected toy donations through Toys for Tots, and that PTA president Joe coordinated that effort; more than 100 toys were donated for distribution, the PTA reported.
Superintendent Mary Fox Alter praised the PTA’s organization and said the event helped build a culture of reading across families and classrooms. Board members attending the meeting also thanked organizers and described the readathon as a “labor of love” that generated enthusiasm among students and families.
PTA volunteers and administrators said they plan to evaluate academic impact in coming months; a board member asked whether the district could track reading-level gains tied to the extra practice, and PTA and district staff agreed to follow up.
The PTA asked the board to pass thanks on to the many volunteers and school staff who supported the event; district leaders said they would share board appreciation with the organizers.
