By Denise Donato-McConnell, FOCUS President
Several years ago, I arranged to take my family to an “Escape Room.” We had to leave our bags outside to prevent us from taking in electronic devices. It wasn’t until we were locked inside that I realized I had left my reading glasses in my bag. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t read the clues and fully participate or contribute to the fun.
I think many of us have experienced feeling angry or frustrated at not knowing where our reading glasses were at that crucial moment in trying to follow a recipe or panicked at not being able to read a pill bottle to administer to an ill family member. Others of us may have had that feeling of being uncomfortable or lost when traveling in another country because we couldn’t read the foreign language signs.
Those feelings of being embarrassed, uncomfortable, lost, frustrated, angry or panicked because of temporarily being unable to read, could be some of the experiences an illiterate child might feel daily.
According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, “A person’s ability to read lowers their risk of poverty, improves their chance for employment, increases social inclusion and leads to a healthier life.”
FOCUS has been proud to support agencies working to bring books and literacy to vulnerable children. In 2022 alone, we were able to donate a number of books to various agencies totaling 3,130. Because of their belief that reading is a pathway to learning, FOCUS has partnered with such literacy organizations as Traveling Stories, Juvenile Book Club, Reach Out and Read, and United Through Reading.
If you would like to join FOCUS in support of giving vulnerable children the precious gift of being able to experience, explore the world and make connections through words, plan to attend the FOCUS “Happily Ever After” Event. This special entertaining and informative evening will take place on March 30th at 5 pm in the beautiful Coronado Cays Yacht Club.
Single tickets are still available for $60 and a table of 8 is only $400 at www.focus-sdkids.org/event/focusliteracy/. Invite your friends to join you in a great program which will include trivia, a choice of three plated dinners, a guest speaker, special raffle, and information on how you can become involved in special literacy solutions for children!
