AMHERST — An Amherst organization that has provided thousands of books to underserved areas across the country since 2001, and its founder, are being honored by the Massachusetts Center for the Book
Reader to Reader, Inc. founder David Mazor recently earned the Library of Congress/Massachusetts State Literacy Award at a celebration at the Jones Library.
Both Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, were on hand to present the award, alongside Jim Wald, the board chairman of the Center for the Book.
Mazor said his organization was honored to be recognized. The award comes with a cash prize provided by the David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group.
“The recognition itself serves as encouragement to advance our literacy work and the funds will be put to good use toward that end,” Mazor said.
Since its inception, Reader to Reader has supplied more than $75 million worth of books and computers to needy communities, sometimes in the aftermath of natural disasters. Recognizing that 60 percent of underprivileged children do not own a book, the organization has provided school and public libraries with books, e-readers and computers free of charge, focusing on inner cities, poor rural towns and Native American reservations.
Additionally, Reader to Reader has developed literacy programs, including the Read, Think, Share mentoring program, Blueprint for Success workshops, and family literacy programs for immigrant parents and teen mothers in Holyoke and Springfield.
The Massachusetts Center for the Book is charged with developing, supporting and promoting cultural programming that will advance the cause of books and reading and underscore the central role libraries play in civic and civil society.
Hampshire County 4-H is holding a ham and beans supper at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 120 Russell St., Saturday at 5 p.m.
The supper is a fundraiser for the Hampshire County 4-H Fair, scheduled for July 7 at the Cummington Fairgrounds, where children are able to showcase their achievements and skills.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children under the age of 10. A raffle will follow.
An annual flower show and sale will be held at the Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle St., Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
A variety of floral arrangements, plants, seedlings and terrariums have been donated to the sale by members of the club, along with Atkins Farms, Andrew’s Greenhouse and the Hadley Garden Center, and local supermarkets including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Big Y and Stop & Shop.
Tickets are $5 at the door and refreshments will be served in the dining room.
All money raised will go toward the club’s scholarship program and community service projects.
Amherst Regional Middle School student Cameron Gray-Lee recently won the local National Geographic GeoBee, allowing him to move on to the statewide competition.
This is Cameron’s second time going to the state competition, which he previously attended while in sixth grade at Fort River Elementary School.
Marvens Pierre, a third-year student at the University of Massachusetts, recently earned national recognition by being named a 2019 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact.
Pierre is a double major in social thought and political economy and anthropology and is one of 262 community-committed students chosen to represent Campus Compact member colleges and universities from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Mexico and Greece. He currently serves as undergraduate program coordinator for the university’s Student Bridges Agency.
TUESDAY: Jones Library Board of Trustees, 5:30 p.m., Goodwin Room, Jones Library; Amherst School Committee, joint meeting with Amherst-Pelham and Pelham committees, 6:30 p.m., high school library.
WEDNESDAY: Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee of the Town Council, 10:30 a.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
