Mission

This City Reads! is a community alliance of organizations to champion and leverage the power of reading to promote the future success of families, individuals, and businesses in Greater Akron/Summit County.

Vision

Summit County/Akron is the Reading Capital of the World. What’s possible if all our kindergartners are ready to learn to read? What’s possible if all our third graders are reading to learn?

This City Reads!
Partners believe:

• Reading is everyone’s business
• An information-based economy requires everyone to read
• Reading soars when family, school and community collaborate
• First you learn to read, then you read to learn
• Reading is essential to improving quality of life
• Reading is fundamental to responsible citizenship

This City Reads! Goals

• Leverage impact
• Engage the community
• Connect individuals and families with resources
• Champion the collaborative model

The 2006 Get Caught Reading! Kids’ Photography Contest! celebrates our region and Akron’s quest to become the Reading Capitol of the World by showing people in our community “caught in the act of reading.” The contest is an outgrowth of the national Get Caught Reading campaign which features celebrities “caught in the act of reading” to remind people of all ages about how much fun reading can be!

A First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention were awarded in each category. One Best of Show was chosen from the first place winners in each category. The judges were Bob Demay, Photo Editor for the Akron Beacon Journal; Kathy Moorehouse (Art Director) and Ray Saviciunas (Managing Editor) from Akron Life and Leisure; Trish Saylor, Children’s Librarian for Akron Summit County Public Libraries; and Barbara Tannenbaum (Chief Curator and Head of Public Programs) and Missy Higgins from the Akron Art Museum.

ALL winning photographers received four Tickets to the June 20 This City Reads! Akron Aeros game where they were recognized and their photos displayed. In addition, prizes were awarded as follows:

• Second Place, Third Place, Honorable Mention awards: Gift Certificate to Borders’ Books and Music stores

• First Place awards: Gift Certificate to Borders’ Books and Music stores, an Akron Aeros’ 2006 Kids Club Membership and publication of their photograph in the Akron Beacon Journal and Akron Life and Leisure magazine.

Best of Show received an additional Certificate to Borders’ Books and Music stores.

This program is part of the This City Reads! initiative and was organized by the Akron Art Museum. This program was made possible through generous contributions form the following: Lisa Bruno, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Life and Leisure, the Akron Aeros, the Denis Conley Gallery and Akron-Summit County Public Library.

In the K–4 Category:

• First Place: Roland Reddick

• Second Place: Daulson Fitzpatrick

• Third Place: Klaire Morgenstern

• Honorable Mention: Uriah Fitzpatrick

In the 5–8 Category:

• First Place and Best of Show: Katy Chessar

• Second Place: Calia Battista

• Third Place: Tavon Jackson

• Honorable Mention: Chris Ruple

In the 9–12 Category:

• First Place: Amanda Simons

• Second Place: Ashli Hostettler

• Third Place: Brittany Wilder

• Honorable Mention: Nik Vechery