Fossella Kicks-off 5th Annual
Readers Are Leaders Contest

U.S. Rep. Fossella To Hold Awards Ceremony to Honor Super Readers

[Washington, DC] – Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY13) today kicked off his 5th Annual Readers Are Leaders Challenge during a press conference at St. Bernadette’s School. Fossella also announced that an awards ceremony honoring the top readers will be held this spring.

Last year, 1,179 young people participated in Fossella's Readers Are Leaders Challenge, reading 12,751 books in a one month period. Since Fossella kicked off the program in 2000, 8,405 fourth graders have read 66,446 books.

"The success of the Readers Are Leaders program proves that children love to read and are just as willing to pick up a book as they are to flip on the television,@ Fossella said. AI believe that if we encourage young people to read when they=re young, it is a habit they will continue throughout their lives. Last year, more than 1,100 students visited foreign lands, took trips into space and hit the game winning homerun all by reading a book. We taught them to exercise their minds and expand their knowledge. I look forward to even more students this year taking the Readers Are Leaders Challenge.”

Every student who completes the Challenge receive a Congressional Certificate of Recognition.  The winning class from each school (100% participation and reads the most books) is awarded a pizza party (compliments of Dominic Vaccaro of Ristorante Vaccaro). The top individual winner from each school receives a $50 savings bond.

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