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Sharon Davis Joins RTG Board of Directors

6/18/2008

Sharon Davis has lived in Branford for only a few years, but she and her daughters have done much to make their mark on the community. Sharon is the newest board member of Read to Grow (RTG) and is inspired every day by the group’s message of literacy and hope for Connecticut children.
 
Sharon has a strong educational background and thirst for knowledge that was inspired by her brother’s own example.

Education was stressed in our house, but not necessarily as a way to get ahead or to advance,” says Sharon. “My brother was the one who really pushed the family towards education. He was my role model. He instilled the love of education and learning in me.”

Sharon has several degrees, including a BA in international relations and master’s degrees in human resource management and public administration. From an early age she was an avid reader.

“I just loved to read. I absolutely devoured books when I was younger. At every opportunity I was at a library. I think I always had a book in my hand,” Sharon says. “It is so important to have the ability to read. Not just professionally, but personally as well.”

In its 10th year, RTG is a statewide non-profit organization based in Branford that is dedicated to improving early literacy for Connecticut children. They provide books and encourage parents to read to their babies and youngsters.

RTG gives a new book to every newborn in its eight partner hospitals, connecting with a remarkable 50 percent of the babies born in the state.

Sharon says that a previous employer where she worked in Delaware stressed the need for community involvement and when she took a job at local manufacturer, Alcoa-Howmet, she began the search for a local non-profit to get behind.

“I was looking for an organization that we could become involved with and when I heard about Read to Grow, with literacy being one of my pet projects, I jumped at the chance. We wanted to get involved in something where we could be of the most help,” says Sharon. “They really sparked my interest and I knew I had to get with them.”

Sharon says some of her fellow employees at Howmet helped inspire her to choose RTG as their community project. With a predominantly Hispanic work force, Sharon says she saw the need for literacy in everyday, practical terms.

“Our employee base is mainly Hispanic here and for some of our employees English is a second language, so literacy is something that we understand. We stress that if employees want to take English as a second language, we will get them in classes. We want people to succeed,” says Sharon.

“We promote literacy in both English and Spanish through Read to Grow and it was something that just made sense for us to be involved with. We feel that we can make a difference. I knew that this was something we wanted to be connected with.”

RTG has distributed more than 350,000 books so far and has several well established programs that get books into children’s hands, early and often.
 
“It inspired me to read to my daughters even more. Books are in abundance in our home. I want my daughters to experience different cultures and ideas.

“The world is not just black and white, there are many shades. I want to try and expose them to everything through books. By reading even if you can’t travel there you can take your mind there,” says Sharon.

“Having volunteered in classrooms, which is something I love to do, to read at elementary schools, I can see the process work. I’m like a kid again when I do that. I love going to classrooms.”

Sharon says the knowledge that children and parents are leaving the hospital with a book and the information to continue to access material is a unique way to make a positive impact. The process brings families closer and helps expand both the parent and child’s world with access to books and literacy reinforcement.

“Knowing they leave just days after being born with their first book is special,” says Sharon. “The parents will read and explore and expand their knowledge as well. Literacy is so important in so many aspects, it is exciting to be part of an effort like Read to Grow.”

Sharon’s community activities were so well received at RTG that she was asked to serve on its board, another opportunity she jumped at.
 
“I was truly honored to be asked to be on the board,” says Sharon. “I just wanted to volunteer and help, being on the board is a great honor.”
 
This article was originally written by Ben Rayner, Senior Staff Writer for The Sound, published by Shore Publishing Company.

6/10/2008
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7/13/2008
Read to Grow Inducted into Channel 13 Hall of Fame
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