Buffalo, N.Y., July 22, 2010 – Read to Succeed Buffalo has announced the availability of summer writing workshops for children who are participating in the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge.  The writing workshops are designed to assist youth with completing the writing portion of the Challenge and help participants win prizes. Only participants who both read and complete the written book summaries are eligible for prizes such as bikes and iPods! 


The workshops have been developed through a partnership with Read to Succeed Buffalo, The Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, local community centers and a dedicated group of volunteers who will work with children at a variety of locations including libraries, community centers, and organizations offering summer camps.
While participation in the Summer Reading Challenge has grown, nearly 64 percent of participants did not complete the required book summaries and were not eligible for prizes last year.  The writing workshops were developed to help children complete the Challenge and maintain or improve their writing skills over the summer months.   


Writing Workshops will be held at the following locations.  In some instances, participants must be registered as part of the organization’s summer program to participate, however any one can attend a workshop at the library locations including: 
East Delavan Library (896-4433)
Frank Merriweather Jr. (883-4418)
Niagara Street (882-1537)

Additional locations that may require registering for a summer program to be eligible to participate in workshops include:
George K. Arthur (896-1325)
Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo (825-1016) 
FLARE   (878-6740)
Delavan Grider Community Center (893-7021)
Concerned Ecumenical Ministry (882-2442)
West Side Community Center (884-6616)
YMCA D’Youville Summer Camp (289-5065)
Community Action Organization (881-5150)

Read to Succeed Buffalo. Inc. began in 2007 to address Buffalo’s staggering literacy problems. A funding collaborative that includes the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation and The John R. Oishei Foundation currently supports the organization. Read to Succeed Buffalo is comprised of a coalition of nearly 50 local organizations dedicated to improving literacy in the City of Buffalo. The organization works collaboratively with coalition partners to break the cycle of intergenerational illiteracy by achieving the goal of 100 percent literacy for every adult and child in the City of Buffalo.