For the Love of Books Breakfast
"At what age do young children start decoding the world around them?"
This was a most thought-provoking question to be asked by 2020 For the Love of Books breakfast honorary host and ROR-KC Medical Director Sallie Page-Goertz, while gathered over coffee and delicious morning provisions. All while being surrounded by 180 community members, ROR-KC board members and Kansas City leaders such as Mayor Quinton Lucas and former Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
We are proud to say we had a successful 2020 For the Love of Books breakfast on Thursday, February 13 at a new location, Grand Street Cafe. On a cold Thursday morning when you'd typically be driving into work thinking about the day ahead, we gave our attendees the opportunity to take a break from the norm and gather for breakfast, meaningful conversation and a glimpse into Reach Out and Read Kansas City's world.
Even with the temperatures dropping, we managed to keep moving and this year, with your help, we grossed $53,560 so far. We were able to get the $4,000 match from the Kauffman Foundation with our day-of total at $14,575 (including the match).
Throughout the morning, inspiration came in many forms as Sallie Page-Goertz challenged us to envision what it would be like for a child on a day-to-day basis that didn't have access to books, so ROR-KC staff made a code listed on event programs for attendees to decipher. The code resulted in: Books Are Awesome!
Goertz then explained an interesting Princeton University study conducted earlier this year. A team of Princeton researchers developed a new way to measure baby and adult brain activity during natural interaction.
Our guests were then treated to an insightful Q&A lead by Fox 4's Shannon O'Brien towards our Keynote Speakers, local children's book authors Aja James and Audrey Masoner. We learned more about them as individuals and their journey into how "Mayor Sly and the Magic Bow Tie: A Kansas City Adventure" was born.
ROR-KC would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsors: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Hallmark, Sallie Page-Goertz & Kenneth Goertz, Pamela Madaus & William McLean III and The Walsh Family Foundation.
We hope we will have your support for next year's For the Love of Books breakfast!
