(Jan. 5, 2009) Hundreds of school children have taken the gift of reading home for the holidays thanks to a partnership that promised to make a difference in the communities around the Anschutz Medical Campus. The partnership includes University of Colorado Hospital, University of Colorado Denver, The Children’s Hospital, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority and Forest City Enterprises.

Employees of each institution donated books in early December and more than 900 books were distributed Thursday, Dec. 18, to 840 students at Montview and Paris Elementary Schools. The students were each given a book to call their own matched to their reading level by their teachers. The books that were not given away will serve to expand classroom libraries in both schools.

Lisa Jones, principal of Paris Elementary, said the community partnership is “great organizations working together to help families.” She says it is especially important because many of the students don’t have books at home.

“The looks and expressions on the faces of the kids when they received their books were priceless,” said Jeff Thompson, director of Government and Corporate Relations at University of Colorado Hospital.

Michelle Barone, the principal at Montview Elementary, says the community partnership is making a difference. The day after the book distribution at her school, Barone said a mother stopped her in the hall, thanked her for the book and said her daughter had read 13 pages the night before.

For those at the partnering institutions who donated a book and wondered if it really would make a difference, there are 840 elementary school kids in Aurora who will tell you it did.  

Photo Caption: Students at Montview Elementary School enjoy new books given to them through a community partnership with institutions on the Anschutz Medical Campus.