About Reach Out and Read Kansas City

Reach Out and Read Kansas City is a bistate coalition of 33 sites in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. It was formerly established as KC READS in 1997 with the effective collaboration between KU Children's Center at Kansas University Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital & Clinics. ROR Kansas City trains pediatricians and nurses to integrate literacy into well-child visits, provides new, developmentally and culturally appropriate books for children between 6 months and 5 years, and recruits volunteer readers for clinic waiting rooms.

Our mission is to promote children's literacy through the participation of pediatric health care providers, volunteers, community partners, and parents, by stimulating early brain development and enhancing language and pre-reading skills. It is our belief that sharing books with children from birth promotes a healthy beginning to life, improves a child's chances for lifelong success, and inspires a love of reading.

Coalition Announcements

Training sessions - Training is provided for medical providers who have not been trained and for those who need re-training. Please contact Dr. Jean Harty to schedule.

Volunteers are needed to read in clinics on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss Day. Please contact Janice to schedule (913-588-0295).

Book Donations

ROR Kansas City appreciates the donation of new and gently-used books. Used books are available for siblings and ill children and are used to stock waiting room bookshelves. To make a donation, please contact Janice Dobbs, Book Coordinator, at (913) 588-0295.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed in all waiting rooms. Volunteers receive a one-hour training session. Please contact Susan Mong, Volunteer Coordinator, for further information.

Advisory Board Members

Laura Gregory, Co-Chair, Past-President, Junior League of Kansas City, MO
Anne Blessing, Co-Chair, Attorney (retired)
Christine Adams, KU Endowment Association
Randy Atwood, Director, University Relations, Kansas University Medical Center
Krista Cox, M.D., ROR Coordinator, Baby & Child Associates
Stacy Elwell-Chalmers, District Manager, Starbucks
Martha Gershun, Principal, MG Consulting
Jenny Gunter, Community Volunteer
Lynn Hardy, Outreach Coordinator, Children’s Mercy South
Helma Hawkins, Director of Youth Services, Kansas City Public Library
Vivien Jennings, Owner, Rainy Day Books
Rita Kancel, Director, Parents as Teachers, Kansas City, KS
Michele Kilo, M.D., Director, Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospital
Susanne Mahoney, Speech and Language pathologist, Kansas City, KS, School District
Susan Price, District Manager, Starbucks
Dee Rusconi, Early Education Manager & Outreach Coordinator, KCPT Public Television
Senia Shields, Will to Succeed Foundation
Davoren Tempel, Vice President, Resource Development, Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics
Kathryn Veal, M.D., Pediatrician, KU Children’s Center
Michael Wall, Vice President, KU Endowment Association
Sharon Wilkerson, MD., ROR Coordinator, Children’s Mercy Pediatric Care Center
Mary Jo Williams, Fund Account Services Manager, KU Endowment Association

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