PHILIPSBURG – Cen-Clear Child Services announced a $1,000 grant from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation in recognition of its efforts in early childhood literacy.
Through Project PLACE (Promoting Literacy through Adult/Child Education), CCS Head Start home visitors work with families to increase the incidence of parents reading to their children. Books are provided to families so they can continue reading together on a regular basis.
Last year Head Start parents in Centre and Clearfield Counties logged over 61,000 hours in time spent reading to their children. According to Gene Kephart, CCS Executive Director, “We believe that encouraging families to read together is one of the most important things we can do to prepare children to succeed in school. Cen-Clear to extremely pleased that the Bear Hugs Foundation shares our vision and is willing to partner with us in this successful early literacy initiative.”
The grant was made possible through the sale of Read Teddy – a special furry friend available in all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores. With the sale of each Read Teddy, one dollar is donated to literacy programs throughout the United States and Canada.