W.O Times, Just 1 Book ready to run with Reading Reindeer

For $20, guests at the Sept. 29 kickoff can enjoy appetizers and wine and help the children's literacy program, now in it 17th year.

The West Orange Times and Just 1 Book are hosting the Focus on Literacy event to kick off the community newspaper’s Reading Reindeer program.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at alFresco, 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, and the $20 tickets include wine and appetizers.

Tickets are available at the Times office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, and $10 of each ticket sold goes directly to the Reading Reindeer literacy program. Attendees are invited to bring a new book suitable for children from infancy through middle school, as well.

There will be a silent auction, and the Times still is looking for donations of items or services from local business or individuals. To donate, call Sarah Zhou, (407) 496-4670.

Orlando author Ethan Long will read from his children’s books and demonstrate his illustrating techniques. He is an award-winning book author and illustrator with more than 70 children’s books, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and an Emmy-nominated television series to his credit.

He graduated in 1991 from the Ringling College of Art and Design and currently lives in Orlando with his wife and three children.

Fourteen-year-old Sarah Dewitz, of Orlando, motivated by her love of reading and desire to help others, created Just 1 Book and launched a bookmobile to collect and distribute books to low-income families in Central Florida. Her organization has provided more than 200,000 books to children.

Reading Reindeer is now in its 17th year at the West Orange Times. Longtime staff writer Kathy Aber initiated the program in 1998. Community support has enabled Reading Reindeer to bring new books to more than 45,000 children. New businesses and civic groups have joined long-standing donors to make this holiday literacy effort an annual success.

The goal each year is to collect and distribute 3,000 new books to local children at 15 local organizations by Christmas.

In addition, through cash donations, this program provides a new copy of Dr. Seuss’ ABCs to the parents of each baby born at Health Central throughout the year — about 700 births annually.

The community is invited to join the effort to improve literacy levels in West Orange County one book at a time. Checks payable to Reading Reindeer also can be sent to the Times office at 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787.