March 1 - 8, 2010

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is the MONA/TRC Read-A-Thon?
A: From March 1 to March 8, 2010, the Mothers of North Arlington (MONA) will hold a read-a-thon to raise funds for The Reading Connection, an Arlington-based nonprofit focused on encouraging at-risk families and their children to spend more time reading. Participants will commit in advance to reading a certain number of minutes per day during that week. (For many families, this will be a matter of recording the time you already spend reading together. For others, we hope participating in the read-a-thon will jumpstart parent-child reading in your household.) Then, participants will secure financial pledges from friends and family members in support of their participation in the read-a-thon.

Q: What is the Read-A-Thon Kickoff on March 1st?
A: On March 1st from 10:30 am to 12 noon, MONA (members along with their kids) will kick off the read-athon at the Westover Branch of the Arlington Public Library (1644 N. McKinley Street, Arlington) with "story time"-style readings by kids and parents who have elected to participate in the read-a-thon. To sign up to be a reader at this event, contact Bethany Hardy at bethanyhardy@mac.com. (If your child is too young to read, you can read to the group with your child on your lap!) If you or your child prefer not to read at the kickoff event, please join us to listen to the stories and to pick up a gift bag of reading-related goodies.

Q: What is the appropriate age for children participating in the MONA/TRC Read-A-Thon?
A: This event is appropriate for kids of all ages! If your child doesn’t know how to read yet, you can work as a team, securing pledges for the amount of time each day that you will read together. Of course, if your child is already a reader, they’re good to go!

Q: What should we read for the MONA/TRC Read-A-Thon?
A: The answer is simple: anything you like! Books, magazines, newspaper or web articles – anything is fair game, as long as you determine it is appropriate for your child to read (or for you and your child to read together). The only requirement is that it’s fun! We want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Q: Can anyone participate in the MONA/TRC Read-A-Thon?
A: Yes! Although the event is sponsored by MONA, any member of the public can participate in the read-a-thon, either by securing financial pledges and reading, or by making a financial contribution to The Reading Connection in support of the project. To participate, secure a pledge form or contact Bethany Hardy at bethanyhardy@mac.com.

Q: Our family is participating. What do we do when the Read-a-Thon is over?
A: Use the pledge form to record your daily reading times, and add up your total reading minutes for the week. Calculate how much pledge money you’re owed, collect the pledges from your donors, and send a check for the total amount (made payable to The Reading Connection) to Bethany Hardy, 2301 North Albemarle Street, Arlington, VA 22207 by March 15, 2010. If you don’t wish to write a check, contact Bethany Hardy at bethanyhardy@mac.com to discuss other payment options.

Q: I can’t participate, but I’d like to support the project. How do I do that?
A: Make a donation! You can write a check (payable to The Reading Connection) and mail it to Bethany Hardy, 2301 North Albemarle Street, Arlington, VA 22207 by March 15, 2010. If you don’t wish to write a check, contact Bethany Hardy at bethanyhardy@mac.com to discuss other payment options.

Q: Where can we find good suggestions for books to read during the Read-A-Thon?
A: Ask your local children’s librarian – they’re always happy to help! There are a number of other great resources available on the Internet, too. For children up to nine years old, check out PBS’ Reading Rockets annual book guide at http://www.readingrockets.org/books/buyingguide/2009 or the Dr. Seuss book catalogue at http://www.seussville.com/lb/catalog.html (and click on “Books”). For older children, visit the
American Library Association’s listings at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/bbya.

Q: What is Read Across America Day?
A: The MONA Read-A-Thon is taking place March 1 – 8, 2010 in honor of Read Across America Day.
Read Across America Day is March 2nd of every year – Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The holiday was established to encourage children across the country to honor the beloved author by reading their favorite books.

For more information about Read Across America Day go to www.nea.org/readacross/.
For more information about The Reading Connection, go to www.thereadingconnection.org.

Have a question that wasn’t answered here?
Contact Bethany Hardy at 202-277-3848 or bethanyhardy@mac.com.

DOWNLOAD: Pledge Form