Message from Executive Director: Saving Lives...

My mom and my aunt died of cancer so I know first hand the impact this disease has on our loved ones.

But, what if I told you that watching children grow up illiterate is equally as painful, would that sound strange? Unlike cancer, saving lives through reading is within our control. Giving children access to books, equipping them with the ability to comprehend, think critically, goal set, and become fully engaged in their educational process seems like a very natural thing to do.

Wouldn't it just seem plausible that we, as adults, would make sure that we do everything, within our power, to protect and guide our most vulnerable citizens?

After 35 years of nonprofit life, I am still wondering if we are all doing as much as we can...to save lives---tiny lives worth saving, don't you agree?

Corporate Giants Teach EBL Top Readers about Leadership

When you have Earning by Learning students reading 40, 50, 60 books and passing comprehension quizzes with 85% or above accuracy what's next for them?

Well---- Earning by Learning got together with a group of C-level executives and decided to create a Leaders' Circle. For four consecutive weeks these amazing executives taught EBL/Dallas ISD top readers leadership principals.

The Leaders' Circle volunteers had one goal in mind ---to transform these very bright minds into fully engaged thought leaders- the kind of leaders that evolve authentically from the inside out.

At Earning by Learning we believe that only leaders can build other leaders.

"I am proud to say that the Leaders' Circle program is an overall successful.  The kids can not wait to learn the next lesson, and Mr. Dick Evans, CEO of Proliance Resource Group, is an absolutely wonderful teacher, story teller, and reader.  Anahi, one of Mr. Evan's students, said that she was disappointed that the program would only happen for four weeks," says Mary Bilbrey, Dallas ISD librarian and EBL campus coordinator.

The Earning by Learning Leaders Circle will help engage some of our brightest minds in Dallas ISD in a very significant and life changing way. Our C-level leaders will help our Earning by Learning students connect patterns of action with habits of thought. In addition, the 4 week session will also help students gain insights into their core competences/characteristics.  Identifying these competences,while young, will ultimately lead to high fulfillment and high achievement leadership -the kind of leadership that prepares our children to compete in a global workplace.

Earning by Learning would also like to thank Dr. Delores Seamster for creating such great lesson guides and coordinating the Leaders' Circle pilot programs at B. H. Macon Elementary and J. W. Ray Learning Center.

If you would like to become a 2013-2014 Leaders' Circle volunteer, simply log onto http://eblofdallas.org/leader_circle.html and sign up. An EBL representative will contact you shortly.

Photo:  Dick Evans and his Macon/EBL top readers.   

Humana Foundation Donates $15,000 

Earning by Learning has taken its phenomenally successful literacy program to greater heights with a new project that includes Humana Foundation and Dallas ISD. Live Well! Create A Healthy Mind and Body combines the Earning by Learning reading incentive model with emphasis and attention given to health literacy and lifestyle among school-aged children. Participating schools will receive grant dollars to purchase books, software and bicycles that will be used to incent our top Earning by Learning/Dallas ISD readers.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America with links to long-term health issues. These health concerns can be alleviated by drawing awareness to healthy lifestyle choices and starting healthy habits at a young age. As people become more aware of health issues through health literacy and advocacy initiatives, they will make positive changes to live better lives.

Numerous studies cite the correlation between education and health. As a nationally recognized nonprofit reading program, Earning by Learning has teamed up with Humana Foundation to engage children in a conversation about matters of health as well as academics.