Patients Celebrate Family Literacy Month at Carilion Children's

In observance of National Family Literacy Month in November, Carilion Children’s today held a Family Literacy Book Fair for patients at its Tanglewood Center.

The event brought together organizations that work to promote literacy among Roanoke children and families, including Reach Out and Read, and Star City Reads.

Also featured was a book signing with acclaimed children’s author Nancy Ruth Patterson whose latest coloring book, “Captain Carilion” -- made possible through gifts to the Carilion Clinic Foundation – is given to children at Carilion facilities.

“Studies have shown the strong link between literacy and health,” said Donna Deadrick, clinical educator at Carilion who manages Carilion’s chapter of the Reach Out and Read program. “We welcome the opportunity through this event to share the joy of reading as we work to improve childhood literacy in our area.”

With funding from the Carilion Clinic Foundation, Reach Out and Read provides more than 10,000 books a year free of charge for pediatric patients.

Roanoke Public Libraries’ Star City Reads and Carilion Children’s have partnered to create Feed, Read & Grow, a pediatrician-librarian partnership that provides print and digital health literacy resources to Roanoke families. Their goal is to ensure all Roanoke children are proficient in reading by third grade.

“We’re pleased to join with our community partners to promote childhood literacy,” said Ralph Alee, Carilion Clinic’s vice president for philanthropy. “We’re especially grateful to the Foundation’s many generous donors whose gifts make these vital programs possible.”