Encouraging the love of reading can certainly have a positive effect on young kids. That’s why United Way of Central Oklahoma provided a literacy event today at Kaiser Elementary School and Hayes Elementary School in Oklahoma City as part of the Successful Kids initiative.

United Way invited Rumble the Bison to bring excitement and instill the joy of reading from one of their favorite mascots. He showed just how fun reading can be as he performed magic tricks he had learned from reading a book about magic.

“We are so appreciative for how United Way of Central Oklahoma has contributed to their time and resources to help the students of our school,” said Shaun Ross, Principal at Hayes Elementary School. “Today was just one great way they have served our students and given them a chance to succeed. We can’t thank them enough.”

United Way of Central Oklahoma takes an active role in shaping the future of students. By way of a grant from Chase Bank, United Way provides a tutor program by recruiting and training tutors and donates school supplies and Scholastic books to encourage reading, which is an important part of any child’s education. Today United Way of Central Oklahoma presented 125 Scholastic books for every first grade student at Kaiser Elementary and 75 Scholastic books for every Kindergarten student at Hayes Elementary.

First Grade Teacher Jamie Hamrick at Kaiser Elementary is presented with Scholastic books by Linda Tharp and Charla Rhodes from United Way of Central Oklahoma.