Ready. Set. Read! is story time with a purpose. Toast for Charity is hosting their event on Saturday, July 18th at the historic Pan African Connection in Oak Cliff. Their objective is to introduce the kids of southern Dallas to the rich history of Black culture while also empowering childhood li teracy. Come ready for reading, snacks, fun, and more. Registration for the free event is required. “Ready. Set. READ! is Toast for Charity’s signature early literacy program,” Dr. Lamar T. Quinn, Founder Executive Director of Toast for Charity said. “We operate this initiative on one core belief: every single word shapes a lifetime. By providing bi-weekly story time sessions, gifting free books for home libraries, and bringing in passionate volunteer readers. Each session adds up to over 2,000 new words in a child’s growing vocabulary. This is how we build the foundation for readers, thinkers, and leaders long before they ever step into a third-grade classroom.” The Ready. Set. Read! program tackles the literacy crisis head-on by pairing professionals with daycare and preschool-aged children, igniting a powerful love for reading from the very beginning. They said their goal is simple: to improve the transition from “learn to read” to “read to learn” by third grade and beyond. Toast for Charity is a 501c3 nonprofit organization moving the younger generation to make a difference in their communities. ...read more read less