Date Book

PROGRAM PARTNERS – From left, Comcast’s Steve Stugard and Ralph Martinez; The Jester’s Mom, Barbara Saltzman; San Jose State’s Diane Satriano; McKinley Elementary Principal Aurora Garcia; and, back, InnVision’s Julia Burkhead enjoy seeing McKinley’s Read-A-Thon get off to a strong start.

VOLUNTEER FORCE – Student volunteers for CommUniverCity join San Jose State’s Dayana Salazar, back, left, and The Jester’s Mom, Barbara Saltzman, in kicking off the Read-A-Thon.

Comcast Sponsors Reading Makes A Difference Program in San Jose

Students at McKinley Elementary School in San Jose, CA, are turning pages by the thousands as they take part in a Jester & Pharley Reading Makes A Difference ™ Read-A-Thon sponsored by Comcast.

On Friday September 19th, The Jester’s Mom, Barbara Saltzman, introduced “The Jester” to the students, parents and teachers in three inspiring assemblies. Principal Aurora Garcia urged all students to “read, read and read” so that they will make a difference.

Joining in the Reading Makes A Difference project are volunteers from Comcast, San Jose State University and CommUniverCity, Americorps Bridging Borders.

McKinley’s students will be busy working with the help of these volunteers to keep track of their reading, creating get-well cards for hospitalized children and craft projects based on lessons from “The Jester.”

To further motivate participation in the Read-A-Thon, volunteers from Comcast and Americorps Bridging Borders will read to the children and conduct fun activities in the classrooms on October 10th.

The culminating Recognition Assembly led by Principal Garcia will honor all McKinley readers on Wednesday Oct. 29. At this time, the students will present the many Jester books and dolls generated by their reading to InnVision: The Way Home, a San Jose non-profit that cares for the homeless.