Sunny Isles Beach honors Kiwanis of Northeast Miami‑Dade for award‑winning library reading programs

The City Commission presented a certificate of special recognition to the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Miami‑Dade for its partnership with the Miami‑Dade County Public Library System on children’s literacy programs.

The citation read at the meeting noted that the club’s Paws to Read program and the Kids Reading Club won a 2024 National Association of Counties Achievement Award. The reading program pairs certified therapy dogs and trained volunteers with children ages 4 to 8 to build reading confidence, while the Kids Reading Club provides peer tutoring for children ages 6 to 11, supported by volunteer high‑school Key Club members.

A program representative described the therapy dogs’ training and the program format, saying children read to the dogs in a non‑judgmental setting and often linger to pet the dogs afterward. Jeffrey Berson of the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Miami‑Dade described the club’s long local history and thanked the city for allowing programs at the Sunny Isles Beach Library. "We have a key club program, which stands for Kiwanis Educating the Next Generation of Youth," he said.

Program logistics noted during the meeting included the Kids Reading Club meeting the second Saturday of the month from 2 to 3 p.m., a monthly session where children may take books home, and a dog‑reading session on the fourth Saturday. Commissioners thanked the volunteers and encouraged residents to attend upcoming sessions.

The commission took no formal votes on funding or policy for these programs and then adjourned the meeting.