HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING "REACH OUT AND READ RHODE ISLAND DAY" ON MARCH 3, 2026 IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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LC005892
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING "REACH OUT AND READ RHODE ISLAND DAY" ON MARCH 3, 2026 IN
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Caldwell, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kennedy, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, Fellela, Diaz, and Fogarty

Date Introduced:
March 03, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read Rhode Island is a local, nonprofit organization
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dedicated to building a world where every child is read to every day by supporting families with
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young children through the power of shared reading and early literacy; and
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WHEREAS, The organization partners with pediatricians and family medicine providers
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across Rhode Island to encourage families to read aloud every day starting at birth as a way to
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build early literacy skills, strengthen family bonds and empower parents to be their child's first
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and most important teacher; and
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WHEREAS, Families participating in the Reach Out and Read RI program receive
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developmentally appropriate, new books at no cost during well-child visits from birth through age
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five, helping to build home libraries and spark early developmental, language, and emotional
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skills; and
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WHEREAS, Reading aloud with young children not only promotes language acquisition
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and cognitive development but also strengthens parent-child bonds and supports healthier brain
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growth during the critical early years of life; and
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WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read RI has served Rhode Island since 1999, currently
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partnering with nearly 70 medical sites statewide and a network of over 400 medical clinicians,
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providing books and literacy guidance at more than 100,000 well-child visits last year alone and
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serving 50,000 children; and
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WHEREAS, Recognizing and celebrating Reach Out and Read RI Day on March 3 raises

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public awareness of the importance of early childhood literacy, encourages community support
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for family reading, and honors the dedicated pediatric partners and volunteers who serve Rhode
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Island’s children; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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commemorates March 3, 2026, as "Reach Out and Read Rhode Island Day" in the State of Rhode
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Island in recognition of the vital role that early literacy, family reading, and community
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engagement play in the healthy development and lifelong success of Rhode Island’s youngest
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residents; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Aimee Falso, Executive Director of Reach Out
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and Read RI.
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LC005892
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