Release #145-97

Contact:Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958,Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972

MAYOR GIULIANI AND THE FIREHOUSE DOG HOOPER KICK-OFF P.S. 33’s WE LOVE TO READ-A-THON

The Mayor and Community Leaders Participate in a Day-Long Reading Program

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today kicked off the 1997 We Love to Read-a-Thon, a day long reading program at The Charles Henry Miller School (P.S. 33) in Queens Village. The Mayor read one of his favorite children’s book, “Firehouse Dog,” to a class of second graders and spoke to fourth and fifth grade classes about the importance of reading. Joining the Mayor at P.S. 33 were the real-life “Firehouse Dog,” Hooper and FDNY Firefighter Kevin Hannafin.

"Today's We Love to Read-a-Thon is an opportunity for schoolchildren to focus on one of life's most important skills -- reading,” Mayor Giuliani said. “Literacy is the foundation of all learning. Whether it is science, mathematics, or the arts, knowledge comes from reading. But at the same time, the children of P.S. 33 are also discovering that reading is fun and entertaining. I salute the teachers and parents of the Charles Henry Miller school for their efforts today and throughout the school year.

“Good reading skills give children the essential tools to build a future of hope and educational success,” the Mayor added. “That is why I have made $125 million of City funds available to fund Project Read, which we have established to address the problems of illiteracy. With Chancellor Rudy Crew, we have also made available an additional $70 million this year and added it to $69 million already allocated for the purchase of new and up-to-date books.”

Also joining the Mayor at today’s event, where 1,400 City Hall bookmarks were distributed to the students, were noted children’s author Linda Michelle Baron, Celestine Miller, Superintendent, District 29, Lawrence Cohen, P.S. 33’s Principal and members of the P.S. 33 Parent Teacher’s Association.

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