1. to bear all or part of the weight of; hold up
2. to give assistance to, especially financially; enable to function or act

Over the past 20 years, Dictionary Project supporters have donated more than 26 million dictionaries and contributed countless volunteer hours to ensure more students will be able to enjoy the benefits of owning a dictionary – Proof that when people collaborate, great things can be accomplished.

There are many ways our sponsors support students through their education. Some individuals have the time to volunteer, while others have the financial resources to contribute – both equally important and appreciated.

By funding a dictionary project and volunteering their time to personally present the books to students, members of the Lakewood Elks Lodge #1777 have supported local students for over 10 years. Faculty, parents and students have expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Elk member Venita Collier in letters below:

in·ter·act /ˌin(t)ərˈakt/, verb:
1. to talk or do things with other people
2. to act together: to come together and have an effect on each other

The opportunity for social interaction is very important for the development of a child’s interpersonal skills, including self-awareness, the ability to problem solve and effectively communicate. Children who learn appropriate social skills often have a higher self-esteem and show a greater willingness to interact with their environment as they grow older.

We believe that when sponsors, like the Rotary Club of Corinth, personally visit a classroom to present dictionaries, their interaction with students makes a lasting impression. Since 2007 members of the Rotary Club of Corinth, NY have participated in The Dictionary Project in order to promote educational development and interpersonal skills. At the beginning of each presentation, Corinth Rotarian Alysse Kasowski introduces the Rotary 4-Way Test:

In all we think, say or do, consider:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER friendships?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

By definition, if people interact with each other, they will have an effect on each other. Thus, it is important to think about what kind of effect you have on someone or something – the underlying inquiry of the 4-Way test. Kasowski tells students that truth, fairness, and goodwill are beneficial to all mankind and just as important to a 3rd grader as it is to a Rotarian. She shares with students the importance of being a good citizen and encourages them to volunteer everyday to make the world a better place. One student responded by saying, “What if you run out of a job though?” Kasowski chuckled and responded by saying, “That’s the beauty of doing good, you can never do enough.”

en·cour·age/inˈkərij/, verb:
1. to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident
2. to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen

Encouragement is a powerful tool. It gives us the opportunity to point out a person’s potential and challenge them to succeed at a specific goal. But encouragement does not have to be amplified cheers in an arena to leave a profound impression. It is often the subtle, simple gestures that lift the spirit and build confidence the most.

For students who are leaning how to formulate, read, and write words, encouragement is monumental to advancing their academic growth. Research on educational development has revealed that learning is how a child feels about learning. Students who struggle to read are more likely to develop negative attitudes toward reading and avoid reading altogether. That is why positive reinforcement from teachers, parents, and sponsors like you is so important to inspire life-long readers. Children need to know that adults in their lives care about reading and sponsors like Anthony and Sarah Triola are making this happen.

Valuing the importance of education, Anthony and Sarah Triola picked up the project in Killeen Independent School District, Texas. Not only do the Triolas encourage third graders to read and write, they also encourage individuals, businesses, and local civic organizations in their community to participate by sponsoring a third grade class, visiting schools and helping hand out dictionaries.