By Daily Press staff
The nonprofit Connections For Children will present a festival with a variety of activities used to promote children’s early literacy and language development.
Raising Readers — A Literacy Festival, sponsored by Verizon, will take place Saturday, April 3, from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Clock Tower Quad, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. The event is free and open to the public and free parking will also be available. Entertainment includes reading and storytelling, and children’s singer and songwriter Dan Crow and his band will lead the program with two concert sets at 1:00 and 3:15 p.m.
Flights of Fantasy Story Theater will present a blend of comedy and multi-cultural storytelling to enhance language arts activities and promotes cultural awareness. Performances will take place at 12 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. at the Clock Tower Stage.
The Amazing Magic Show stages a high-energy act with tricks are geared for young children — who will be able to help create the magic themselves, according to officials. Magic shows will take place at 1:45 and 2:45 p.m.
Characters from “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Curious George” will greet children at a Book Fair and sales table, sponsored by Scholastic Books.
Members of the Association for the Education of Young Children - North Bay will offer a variety of literacy-themed activities for preschool-age children.
“Verizon recognizes the importance of introducing literacy early and making reading fun,” said Tim McCallion, Pacific Region President for Verizon.
Additional festival co-sponsors include the Bear Stearns Investment Consulting Group, Metropolitan West Asset Management, Westcap Investors, the Peter Norton Family Foundation, Bob Gabriel Co. Insurance, the Aaroe Associates Charitable Foundation, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, Rent.com and Santa Monica City TV.
Connections For Children is a child care resource and referral agency that serves the Westside and South Bay communities. The agency offers assistance to parents and educators seeking information, referrals and training. Connections For Children for nearly 30 years has linked children's advocates, service providers and parents about issues affecting children and families, according to officials.
For additional information, please contact Patti Oblath or Catherine Griffin of Connections For Children at (310) 452-3325 or Tony Prestby, Santa Monica College at (310) 434-4003.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 20, 2004. Read the original PDF.