Contact: Colleen Roche or Kim Serafin (212) 788-2958
Contact: Colleen Roche or Ari Avidar (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today read to children in the Pediatric Ward at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center to show his support for the Heads Up! Children Read, Listen and Learn Program. One of the first pediatric child literacy programs in the United States, Heads Up! recruits volunteers who, under the leadership of pediatric personnel, read to the children and educate parents on book selection, building up home libraries, and the most effective methods of reading to their children, from birth to age 12.
Joining the Mayor were Dr. Evelyn Lipper, Director of the Division of Child Development and Heads Up! coordinator; Dr. Maria New, Chairman of Pediatrics; Dr. Mary Jo Ward, Research Psychologist; and Eileen Fitzpatrick, a volunteer at Heads Up!
"Reading is crucial for our children to succeed in all areas of education," said Mayor Giuliani. "One of the best legacies that parents can leave their children is instilling in them the desire to read quality books that are a source of knowledge, inspiration, and motivation.
"Through initiatives like Project Read, for which we have earmarked $125 million in the Board of Education's budget, my administration has recognized the enormous value of providing New York City children with the tools to become good readers. I commend the Pediatric staff and volunteers at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center for supporting programs like Heads Up! and I encourage parents to participate in important initiatives like this for the well being of their children."
Since 1992, the Heads Up! Children Read, Listen and Learn Program has served families cared for in the Well Baby Clinic at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. It has also distributed books to more than 4,000 children over the past year in New York City and sponsored book fairs at public schools, Head Start clinics, and child care and homeless shelters. The program registers hundreds of new children each year in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.