FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
Laura Bornfreund (407) 383-6822
Onsite contact: Christine Lewis (321) 239-6159

MAYOR BUDDY DYER CONGRATULATES PARRAMORE STUDENTS FOR COMPLETING UCF/CITY READING CAMP

Free Saturday Reading Camp Offered at Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center
Made Possible Through Mayor’s Educational Partnership Grant

WHO: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Parramore children and parents
UCF students and professors

WHAT: Finale of the Fall Semester Reading Camp

WHEN: Saturday, November 19, 2005
9:00 a.m. –11:00 a.m.
Mayor Dyer will attend at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center
101 N. Parramore Ave.

ORLANDO (November 18, 2005)— This fall, more than 30 children in kindergarten through 7th grade, most of who live in the Parramore area, attended the UCF/City of Orlando Reading Camp. This Saturday, Mayor Dyer will attend the final session at Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, where each student will receive a free book at this culminating celebration of literacy.

The camp, created by UCF Education Professor Dr. Tim Blair, is funded in part through the Mayor’s Educational Partnership Grants Program and provides free reading tutoring for children by UCF undergraduate and graduate education students. Dr. Blair also coordinates a similar reading camp at the John H. Jackson Community Center in Parramore with approximately 50 students.

The Mayor’s Educational Partnership Grants Program funds innovative academic activities during non-school hours. This collaborative opportunity encourages schools, non-profit organizations and neighborhood organizations to create partnerships and receive funding for an educational enhancement program.

Mayor Dyer has made a commitment to investing significant time and resources to benefit our City’s children. This includes funding educational partnership grants, appointing the City’s first Director of Children & Education, doubling the number of pre-kindergarten classrooms at City elementary schools and organizing a fundraising event - CityKidz! that has raised more than $450,000.
 

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