Read Aloud Delaware cuts ribbon on new Georgetown office

Read Aloud Delaware officially opened the doors at its new Sussex County location with a Sept. 20 ribbon cutting at 111 South Race St., Georgetown.

Read Aloud Executive Director James Spadola, Sussex County Director Stacy Penaranda and Board of Directors President Jeanne Brennan welcomed local dignitaries, Read Aloud Delaware staff and dozens of volunteers to the ceremony.

In attendance were Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown. They were joined by Georgetown Mayor Bill West and his wife Faye West. Son-Djerry Cameus attended representing the office of U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.

As longtime community supporters of Read Aloud Delaware, Mike Dickinson, SoDel Concepts president, and Claudia Ruiz, Carl M. Freeman Foundation community engagement coordinator, were on hand to wish the team members well in the new offices.

Founded in 1983, Read Aloud Delaware’s mission is to create a lifelong impact through childhood literacy. The vision is for every child in Delaware to have the fundamental literacy skills to succeed in school and life. Read Aloud volunteers read one-on-one to children in child care centers, preschools and elementary schools.

In 2020, Read Aloud Delaware began partnering with the LENA Start program. Aimed at children from birth to 3 years old, the LENA Start program is designed to help parents and caregivers measure, improve and make the most of their verbal connections with young children. Programs are offered to both English- and Spanish-speaking families.

For more information, go to readalouddelaware.org.