Memorial Opera House Foundation Launches Stuffed Animal Drive to Support Reading Buddies Initiative

rot1The Memorial Opera House Foundation has joined with the Memorial Opera House to collect new 12” to 16” stuffed animals through December 13th in support of the United Way Of Porter County’s Reading Buddies Initiative.

“Every child should be given the best possible opportunity to improve their literacy skills,” said Jacki Stutzman, Memorial Opera House Foundation Board President. “When we improve literacy, we enhance our children’s ability to lead productive, creative and involved lives.”

The collected animals are given to 1st and 2nd grade classrooms across Northwest Indiana to be used as reading buddies. Each student reads aloud to their "buddy" for a minimum for 15 minutes a day. Combined with the teacher’s instruction, United Way Reading Buddies improve the motivation to read and literacy skills. Guidance Counselors in elementary schools are also provided stuffed animals to be used as counseling tools. The program was developed in 2003 by the United Way Regional Volunteer Center and is currently in 125 classrooms throughout Northwest Indiana.

Help is needed to collect and replenish the supply of 4,000 new, cuddly, stuffed animals (approximately 12”- 16” tall.) The new, unwrapped stuffed animals can be dropped off at the Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso during regular business hours. The last day for donations is December 13th.

Patrons of the Memorial Opera House can also bring donated animals to any performance of the Memorial Opera House production of A Christmas Carol, The Musical which runs weekends from November 27th thru December 13th, or at the Memorial Opera House Christmas Lunchtime Cabaret on December 9th. Ticket information for these events can be found at memorialoperahouse.com