|
Verizon West Pioneer Clubs across the nation
recently participated in a chapter-wide project to provide dictionaries
to third grade students in their communities.
Verizon West ordered the books through The
Dictionary Project, which is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.
The goal of their program is to assist all third grade students in
completing the school year as good writers, active readers and creative
thinkers by providing the students with their own personal dictionaries.
The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home
for years to come. A
total 7568 dictionaries were presented to school districts in five
states.
Five clubs of Verizon West participated in donating
the books. The Hi-Desert Pioneer Club of Victorville, California, presented a total
of 2880 dictionaries to school districts in Victorville, Apple Valley,
and Yermo. The club
president is Joyce Childers, who coordinated the club’s project.
Joyce’s husband, Curley, placed all of the book plates inside
the dictionaries. The Norwesco
Pioneer Club of Everett, Washington, under the leadership of Tuesdie
Shaffer, presented a total of 2264 dictionaries to several school
districts in their serving area. Verizon
Public Affairs donated 632 of the books presented as a coordinated
effort between Verizon and the Pioneers.
Sherman and Ruth Wilkerson, who serve as president and secretary
of the Walter G. Wright Pioneer
Club of Bloomington, Illinois, coordinated their group’s donation
of 1344 dictionaries to local schools in their area.
They had a work party when they stuck the book plates inside the
books. The Pete
Heiden Metroplex Pioneer Club of DFW, ,
presented 960 dictionaries to several schools in the Grapevine area.
Scholastic Books and a monetary award were also presented to one of the
school libraries. Brian
Leach, Triangle Pioneer Club President, of Durham, North Carolina,
presented 120 dictionaries to two small, but needy school districts in
their area. The also
presented a few extra dictionaries to the Meyke Project, which assist
students who suffer with learning disabilities is the less fortunate
areas of their community.
Linda Robbins, Pete Heiden Club President, wrote
about their presentation, “We made the presentation of the
dictionaries, books and $4000 on Friday (October 29, 2004). Wow,
was that fun. The kids went crazy over all of it. The
parents and teachers also went crazy when we unveiled the giant check.
The Assistant principal cried.”
The many responses received by the various clubs
have been positive and appreciative.
All five clubs had fun while doing the project, and as you can
see below, the results were awesome!!!!!!! |
|
 November 18, 2004, delivery of dictionaries to
Odyssey Elementary School in South Everett (WA). Norwesco Pioneer
Club delivered 103 dictionaries to the school. In the photo with
the happy recipients, are Morrie Sachsenmaier (right), a Verizon retiree
and Verizon West Membership Chairman, along with Kevin Laverty (left),
Verizon Media Relations, who is a Pioneer Member.
Verizon Public Affairs donated an additional 632 dictionaries to
the Norwesco Club’s project. |
