Jumpstart Ohio University-Zanesville Helps Set World Record

photos from the local event can be downloaded at: http://www.zanesville.ohiou.edu/pr/jumpstartreadforrecordphotomontage8-24-06.htm

Ohio University-Zanesville Jumpstart joined more than 1200 other Read for the Record events in an attempt to set the world record for the number of children and adults reading the same book in a single day.  With the help of the John McIntire Library, Headstart and several American Eagle volunteers, the Jumpstart program helped with story time and coordinated crafts for local children. The nationwide program encouraged reading “The Little Engine That Could” to as many children as possible in a one-day period. Ohio University alumni Matt Lauer read the book on “The Today Show” to begin the national event. Nationally, more than 150,000 children were read to during the event, with the final numbers still coming in according the Read for the Record website.

 “We love to do things in the community, especially when there is a national tie,” said Danny Maxwell, of WHIZ. NBC ran a weeklong series promoting the Read for the Record event, with Today Show host Matt Lauer and other national celebrities reading to children on national television.

The event, in its first year, exceeded the expectations of Jumpstart Ohio University-Zanesville Site Manager Colleen Romito. “We’re the smallest site in the nation, but the national Jumpstart organization is blown away by the community spirit that makes events like this come together,” said Romito.

“Our local event was great thanks to all the partners,” Romito said.  The Muskingum County Library and the efforts of American Eagle volunteers Sarah Gibson, Ted Gavarkavich and Niki Crippen as well as the support of Headstart helped ensure that Ohio University-Zanesville’s Jumpstart program was well-represented in the national effort.