LEWISTON – The 2008 ReadyRead! awards breakfast was held May 2 to celebrate members of the L-A community who have been exceptionally supportive of the ReadyRead! initiative in spreading awareness of the benefits of early literacy.

Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe delivered the keynote address, highlighting the long-term economic benefits of investing in quality early child care now.

The ReadyRead! slogan, “20 minutes a dayReady for K!” encourages parents, caregivers and advocates to read to children 20 minutes every day from the day they are born up through the time they enter kindergarten.

Reading to children 20 minutes a day from birth through age 5 will give them more than 608 hours of pre-literacy experience by the time they enter elementary school.

Those honored with 2008 ReadyRead! Yellow School Bus Awards included Jane Brennan, Kathy Demers, Betty Gundersdorf, Marilyn I. Simonds and Rowe. St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center were also recognized for their work with the Raising Readers Program and the support they offer to families of newborns to encourage early literacy.

On Tuesday, May 13, more than 70 members of the L-A community will take at least 20 minutes out of their day to read to children at 80 local child care centers for the 2008 Read Across L-A Today. In 2007, community members read to 937 children, and this year the Read Across L-A goal is to reach more than 1,000 children.