BLG Reads to Kids

After two years of development, the Firm officially launched its national program to support literacy for young children in schools located in economically disadvantaged areas across the country in September 2003. BLG Reads to Kids sees over 400 employees in every BLG office reading to children within kindergarten to grade three classes of local schools. In addition, the program has established partnerships with existing organizations such as Ottawa Reads, Calgary Reads and several school boards.

According to education professionals across Canada, literacy is a number one priority. Experts agree that if primary students cannot read at an acceptable level before grade 3, a child’s future is challenged in so many ways.

BLG recognized the impact such a challenge brings and proactively developed a comprehensive community program that offers worthwhile value and benefit for children in underprivileged areas.

Shortly after the five founding firms merged in spring of 2000, the Co-Chairs of the firm challenged BLG to develop a national initiative to provide service to our communities. This challenge led to the establishment of BLG’s National Co-Chair’s Committee staffed by volunteer members from each of BLG’s five office locations. Through collaboration and brainstorming the team developed the BLG Reads to Kids Program, which was approved by the National Council.

Three key points best articulate the cornerstones of BLG Reads to Kids program:

• We endeavour to instill a love of reading and our goal is to provide reading assistance and support to children.
• Our commitment is meaningful and sustainable because we recognize that any program with children requires building and maintaining a sincere, stable and dependable relationship with the schools and children involved. For BLG’s program to be truly beneficial for our communities, it must maintain a long-term commitment and focus.
• To ensure hands on participation, BLG has committed wholeheartedly to supporting and endorsing this national program and we actively encourage all members of the Firm across the country to participate with the provision of the time necessary for our volunteers.

Since the launch of the program in September 2003, the overall program continues to grow and meet with great success and feedback from the community. Our aim is to work with specific inner-city schools that would benefit most from volunteer readers. BLG partnered with two existing organizations that focus on pairing adult volunteers with schools: Ottawa Reads and Calgary Reads. In Montreal, the BLG Reads to Kids Program is delivered in both French and English languages through the school boards. In Vancouver, the firm partnered with the Vancouver School Board to deliver its reading program in two inner- city schools — Lord Roberts Elementary School and Lord Roberts Annex. In Toronto, BLG partnered with the Toronto District School Board’s Early Years Literacy Project.

Studies have shown that many poverty-touched schools and regions are short of books and reading materials. To help foster the spirit of reading, BLG has supplemented the program with a book donation drive.

BLG Reads to Kids Committee