Hammond Reads, Inc. contributes $250 to PUC’s R-DUB Club literacy initiative

A $250 gift from Hammond Reads, Inc. to Purdue University Calumet’s Dept. of Health, Recreation and Sports is enabling student athletes from the University to advance literacy within Hammond elementary schools.

Purdue Calumet used the gift to purchase two complete classroom sets of youth novels. Purdue Calumet student basketball players introduce the novels during monthly visits to fifth grade classes at Morton and Maywood Schools and a fourth grade class at Harding School as part of the University’s R-DUB Club outreach initiative.

The R-DUB Club—“R”, for reading and “DUB,” short for the letter, “W,” representing writing—is in its third year of partnership with Hammond elementary schools.

“We are extremely appreciative of the generosity of Hammond Reads, Inc. to make the purchase of these books possible,” Purdue Calumet Assistant Vice Chancellor of Health, Recreation and Sports/Athletic Director Robert Bunnell said. “The gift enables us to apply our NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Champions of Character program in a way that makes a positive, social impact on Hammond elementary students.”

Purdue Calumet basketball player LaKeisha Hurst engages with fifth grade students at Hammond’s Maywood Elementary School during a recent R-DUB Club visit of PUC student athletes.

During monthly 45-minute visits to the classrooms, Purdue Calumet student athletes promote reading and comprehension by introducing a classroom novel and reading chapter one as the elementary students follow along in their individual copy of the book. Another Purdue Calumet student athlete then leads a discussion about what was read in the chapter. The visit concludes with the elementary students interviewing a Purdue Calumet basketball player for a writing assignment directed by their classroom teacher.

During the time between visits, the elementary students continue reading to conclusion the book that was introduced to them.

Hammond Reads, Inc. was founded by the City of Hammond, School City of Hammond, Hammond Public Library and Calumet Area Literacy Council to promote literacy and reading among Hammond residents. Nancy Machnikowski of the School City of Hammond chairs a volunteer board of directors. Hammond Reads, Inc. also is a member of Literacy USA and the Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition.

News Release Date: March 12, 2008