U.S. SEC. OF ED. TO BE JOINED BY FIRST LADY’S MOTHER, FOR "READ TO THE TOP!" EVENT

 

            WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be joined by Marian Robinson, the First Lady’s mother, at noon on Wednesday, July 22, at the Department's headquarters, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.  As part of its summer reading initiative, “Read to the Top!” the Department is partnering with community organizations nationwide to combat summer reading loss in response to President Obama’s national volunteer campaign, "United We Serve," which calls on all Americans to serve in their communities.

 

Duncan and Mrs. Robinson will read The Napping House and to preK-5 students from Montgomery County Public Schools.  Fellow grandparents who work at the Department of Education have been invited to bring their grandchildren as have members of GrandFamilies of America a group that supports grandparents raising foster children.

 

Future guests of the Department of Education’s weekly summer reading campaign include Chair of the Domestic Council Melody Barnes, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

 

WHO:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

First Grandmother, Marian Robinson

                                                                                          

WHAT:

“Read to The Top!” summer reading event 

 

WHERE:

U.S. Department of Education's Plaza

400 Maryland Ave., S.W.

Washington, D.C.

 

WHEN:

Noon EDT Wednesday, July 22, 2009