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ABOUT GENEVA READS
Mission
To inspire a culture of lifelong reading by providing books and creating shared experiences through dynamic community collaboration.
Vision
Our vision is a future where Genevans of all ages enjoy an enhanced quality of life through literacy and the love of reading.
History
2007
2009
2011
2012
2014
2016
2017
2018
2020
2022
Now
A generous donation from the Wyckoff Family Foundation
Geneva Reads got its start in the fall of 2007 when the Wyckoff Family Foundation generously offered to provide funds for books for Geneva children.
Community collaboration
Many organizations in Geneva were working to promote literacy, and annual Wyckoff grants have made it possible to coordinate the separate efforts and establish a community-wide reading initiative. The Geneva City School District, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Geneva Public Library, Literacy Volunteers of Ontario-Yates and others were among those represented at those early meetings.
Community Bookshelves
Free, gently used books are collected and shared on brightly painted Community Bookshelves situated where children visit and families wait for appointments.
Ready to Read
An initiative begins to provide each child Head Start, Universal Pre-Kindergarten and the Agri-Business Child Development center with 20 books a year.
Community Read
An annual Community Read focused on a single theme debuts — with books for students and adults and activites for all.
Annual Book Fest
Free annual family literacy celebration in collaboration with Community Partners.
Board of directors elected
Geneva Reads undertakes strategic planning, laying the groundwork to elect a board, hire a director and achieve non-profit status as a 501(c)3.
First part-time Executive Director hired
A part-time executive director is hired in early 2012.
Healthy Readers
Healthy Readers, which began as the much smaller Books at Birth, launches, distributing books at pediatric visits in Geneva.
To prevent a "slide" in reading skills over the summer, the Summer Slide Book Fair was created.
Literacy Lawn Signs
Lawn signs, reminiscent of the Burma Shave ad campaign that began in 1925, started popping up around Geneva, with quotes encouraging reading and literacy.
Random Acts for Reading
Board members have access to a supply of new small board books to offer to a child they see waiting in line, waiting to be served at a restaurant, or wherever a reading diversion would be welcome.
COVID pandemic response
During the pandemic shutdown, volunteers work from home, labeling and delivering books for various programs, including 10 books per child, taking the place of the Summer Slide book fair. Wearing Geneva Reads masks, community outreach continued.
CARES Reading Program
This one-on-one reading effort started in early 2020 as I PAAW to Read, pairing West Street School students with volunteers. Reading to adults on PAWS night improved many children's skills. When PAWS night was changed to CARES, volunteers began working with K-5 students at each evening session.
Geneva Reads StoryWalk
The Story Walk was completed along Geneva's Lakefront and dedicated to Stephanie "Omi" Monson.
Continued literacy efforts and collaboration
Geneva Reads continues to offer a variety of programs and events, strengthening the literacy of Genevans of all ages.