Rotary Club Gives Dictionaries to Third Graders

Article from the News Star Read More September 24, 2015 4:46 PM EDT More than 15 Rotarians and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres continued their dedication to Southwest Florida’s youth by participating in the annual Dictionary Labeling Day on Sept. 12. The Lehigh Acres club joined 12 other Lee County Rotary Clubs and volunteers to label dictionaries purchased through the clubs’ fundraising efforts for distribution to area youth. On Friday, Oct. 2, Rotary Clubs around Lee County will begin distributing dictionaries to all third graders at the 62 Lee County elementary schools. These books are provided at no cost to the students or Lee County school system and bilingual dictionaries are also supplied and given at the teacher’s discretion. “We are very interested in cultivating positive opportunities for the youth in our communities,” noted Lehigh Acres Rotary President Fred Elliott. “Better informed and educated students make better adult citizens and offer an educated work force.” During the Dictionary Distribution Day, a team of Rotarians will visit each elementary school in their coverage area to deliver books. This year the Rotary clubs of Lee County will distribute approximately 10,000 dictionaries to the 50 elementary schools in Lee County. More than 1,600 of the dictionaries will be handed out by the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres to the seven elementary schools located in Lehigh Acres. “Teachers tell us the dictionaries are an extremely valuable tool helping to make better readers and creative writers,” noted Rotarian Jack Vealey. Vealey is no stranger to the project, as he worked on the inaugural effort with the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres 14 years ago when the club gave dictionaries to all 3rd graders in Lehigh Acres’ elementary schools. The following year, 2003, the project went districtwide. During this time Vealey served as the District 6960 dictionary project chair to Rotary Past District Governor Jim Henry and Jerry Hearn.