Marietta Reads! Annual Read-A-Thon Raises Over $8,000

Marietta Reads! recently completed its ninth annual Read-A-Thon fundraising program for Marietta City Schools (MCS) elementary and Sixth Grade Academy students.

This year’s Read-A-Thon started March 22, 2013 and ended April 15, 2013. Students collected donations based on the amount of reading they did – elementary students had a target of 500 minutes while sixth grade students set a goal of 500 pages.

This year, total Read-A-Thon pledges earned exceeded $8,000, with 21 students earning over $100 in pledges, and 3 students earning over $500 in pledges.

Dunleith Elementary student Ty Baity placed first in overall pledges earned, West Side Elementary students Kieran Holton placed second and Patrick Holton placed third, Marietta Center for Advanced Academics (MCAA) students Ben Manely placed fourth, and Zain Darvesth placed fifth. As the top earning school, West Side Elementary raised $3,647. Dunleith Elementary came in second at $2,273 and MCAA placed third overall at $1,422.

“The Read-A-Thon fundraiser is designed to encourage students to read. Elementary and Sixth Grade Academy students are motivated to read as many books as they can during the Read-A-Thon, collecting sponsorship dollars from parents, family, friends and local businesses,” states Jill Sims, MCS Executive Director, Curriculum and Instruction.

“All the funds collected go towards Marietta Reads! to help provide year-long student reading incentives.”