SWOCC release - COOS BAY, OR – “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss.  More than 500 first-graders from throughout Coos County gathered at Southwestern Oregon Community College for a celebration of books and reading on April 23, 2026. The event marked the culmination of the Gift of Literacy Program, a six-month initiative designed to encourage a lifelong love of reading among young children.  Reading is fundamental. It develops young children’s brains, provides a window into the world around them and helps them do better in all school subjects. Even so, 800 million people around the world cannot read or write. And many families (and some schools) have no books for children to read.  With the idea of improving children’s access to fun books and reading, the Rotary Clubs and school districts of North Bend, Coos Bay, Reedsport, Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and Powers, along with South Coast Education Service District (ESD), and Southwestern have partnered for the past nine years on the Gift of Literacy Program.  Modeled after the Springfield Gift of Literacy, this well-established, time-tested, award-winning program supports reading and inspires thousands of young children.  Each year, Coos County librarians and teachers choose the books. First-grade classrooms receive a set of the books in November, giving teachers an opportunity to read the books in the classroom and build excitement.  The Gift of Literacy Program culminates in the festive celebration at the College with music, guest book readers, and a play put on by youth actors with Little Theatre on the Bay. First-graders receive a bag filled with fun swag, a careers coloring book, and the year’s featured brand-new books!  “Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning, and it's a privilege to support that journey from the very start,” said Southwestern President and local Rotarian Dr. Patty Scott. “This event reflects our deep commitment — not just to education, but to empowering every child in our community to thrive.”  The Rotary Clubs, the South Coast Education Service District, and the College extend a special thanks to Yellow Cab, First Community Credit Union, McDonald’s, Peak Credit Union, and Oliver Northwest Services, Inc. for their generous support of the Gift of Literacy Program.