Partnering With Spin Master and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
TORONTO—Hoot Reading, an online tutoring service that connects kids with real classroom teachers to practice reading over video chat, today announced Hoot Reading For All, a new program which aims to help more of the nation’s children learn how to read. Hoot For All’s first undertaking will see them partner with Spin Master and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to distribute Hoot Reading licenses to kids who might otherwise not be able to afford the program.
“People are often surprised to hear that thirty percent of Canadian grade 3 kids lack basic literacy skills,” says Hoot Reading Co-Founder and CEO Carly Shuler. “These kids are four times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers. Hoot Reading For All is aiming to close the reading gap early, to set up these kids for success down the road.”
Spin Master, a leading global children’s entertainment company, is sponsoring 4,800 reading sessions with teachers for children at Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada. Sessions are 20 minutes long, twice a week, and will take place online over the Hoot Reading App for children attending an after school program at their local Boys and Girls Club.
“We are thrilled to support Hoot Reading to offer their incredible reading program free of cost to children at Boys and Girls Clubs across the country,” says Ronnen Harary, Spin Master’s Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer. “At Spin Master, innovation is in our DNA, and Hoot Reading’s innovative approach to reading makes instruction with teachers accessible to all kids. Supporting Hoot Reading’s initiative will give more Canadian kids the opportunities they deserve.”
Owen Charters, President & CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Canada’s largest child-and youth-serving organization, is likewise enthusiastic about the partnership. “We are so grateful to be able to offer Hoot Reading to the kids at our Boys and Girls Clubs. The children participating in Hoot For All will be hand-selected by our Club leaders, so we’ll really have a chance to strengthen literacy skills for those that need it the most and ensure a long-term impact.”
Hoot Reading will kick off the Hoot For All program with an invite-only event at the Spin Master Playground Cafe in Toronto on October 30. The event will bring together educators, youth-serving organizations and industry leaders to discuss how we need to work as a community to help Canadian children grow into strong, passionate readers.
For more information or to request an interview with Carly Shuler, Ronnen Harary or Owen Charters, please contact:
Jenna Illies
jillies@experiencediamond.com
416.877.1973