"READ ACROSS AMERICA" STARTS MARCH 1 WITH READING AT CHILD STUDY CENTER

Old Dominion University President Roseann Runte and her mother, Anna O'Reilly, will take part in the university's observance of the National Education Association's "Read Across America" promotion March 1 in conjunction with the birth anniversary of Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel.

"All the research shows that when children read outside of school, they do better in school, " said Abha Gupta, assistant professor of reading and director of the Old Dominion Reading Center. "Teachers, celebrities, community members and parents are joining together to find ways to rekindle our students' passion for reading. At Old Dominion University, Reading Center's activities promise to do just that."

Mrs. O'Reilly will read to students at 1 p.m. Friday, March 1, in room 135 of the Child Study Center at 44th Street and Hampton Boulevard. President Runte will read to students at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, in room 135. Volunteer readers from Old Dominion will read from 9 a.m. to noon March 1 at Douglass Park Elementary School in Portsmouth and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at JaCox Elementary School in Norfolk.

"Read Across America" is sponsored by the National Education Association and many of America's leading literacy, youth and civic groups.

For more information, visit the "Read" Web site at www.nea.org/readacross or call Gupta, 683-6042.