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	Dictionary Project Kansas City A Project Sponsored by Reading Reaches, Inc. and Truman Heartland Community Foundation


		Welcome WOW! Now in our 8th year, and still growing!

	Helping Kansas City-area children discover the meaning of "success", "respect", and "teamwork" is the mission of the Dictionary Project Kansas City. Our goal is to put a dictionary into the hands of each third-grade student in every elementary school in the greater Kansas City area every year. Knowing that a dictionary is, perhaps, a child's first reference tool, Dictionary Project Kansas City helps set children on the path to lifelong learning. Dictionary Project Kansas City was founded in the summer of 2002. With an overwhelming support of the Kansas City community, Dictionary Project Kansas City purchased and distributed nearly 9,000 dictionaries during that first school year. Our group began our second school year by enlisting the aid of individuals and businesses and community groups, and distributing 10,000 dictionaries on October 16th, Noah Webster's birthday. And by the end of that school year, we realized that we reached 25,000 third graders in the Kansas City area, and in surrounding communities in Missouri and Kansas. We are excited as we look forward to our seventh year, and realize how many of our partners have returned. Our goal this coming year is to provide dictionaries to all third graders in the seven counties surrounding Kansas City. AND TO GROW TO PROVIDE DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS IN ALL KANSAS AND MISSOURI SCHOOLS

How the Project Works with Teachers, Students, and Donors

Recent News

We are invited to Waverly MO to meet with kids at the Missouri Department of Youth Services, Waverly facliity. Check us out!

And we aren't the only folks that like Tony. Check this recent article from the New York Times

"How can you afford to do this?" We hear this often. Our sponsors keep coming returning , and we are delighted to welcome Tony Richardson back, 200,000 TIMES OVER and pleased that he has chosen to once again make a major contribution toward ensuring the EVERY third grader in our community has a personal dictionary.

We are equally delighted that the Mader Foundation has chosen to make a major grant to the Dictionary Project, thus helping to ensure that EVERY third grader in our community will have a dictionary.

"How do those people get stickers into 25,000 Dictionaries every year?" Another Great "Day of Caring" event Check it out.

Elvis Supports Dictionaries in Kansas City schools at the Eastland Community Foundation's "Sing For Your Supper" in November 2007

Old but still interesting News

The mighty Dictionary Rappers entertain the crowd at the Eastland Community Foundation's "Sing For Your Supper" celebration in November 2005. (And since people ask, here are the rap words.)

The Kansas City metropolitan area includes over 100 school districts; schools of two Catholic Dioceses; charter schools; and private, non-parochial schools. Household incomes in the area range from poverty level to affluence. Dictionary Project Kansas City wants to ensure that all of these students have the dictionaries they need. Here is what we ask of students and teachers in return:

Of the teachers--We ask that the dictionaries be used in the students' regular work, helping both in reading and writing. And we ask, at the end of the school year, that teachers tell us how the dictionaries were used. (Guidelines are included on the agreement \ receipt.)

Of the students--Because the dictionary becomes the personal property of the student, we ask that each student write his or her name on the inside front cover. And to help them track the growth of their vocabulary, we ask that they mark each word as they look it up.

Individuals and organizations who donate $175 or more may designate that dictionaries be delivered to a particular school. Donations not designated will be used first to purchase dictionaries for schools serving financially needy neighborhoods, and then for schools in the remainder of the five county area. Checks for donations should be made payable to: Dictionary Project Kansas City.

As we approach the new school year, we have invited over 400 schools to join us. If your favorite school is not on the list, please contact us..


	Contact Us: email; Phone: 816-763-5205; 9717 Harvard Ave. Kansas City MO 64134