FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 2, 2018
India Ogazi | (832) 548-5112
Saturday Contact: Kevin Nix | (202) 431-5796

 

Disney Awards Grant to Legacy’s “Little Readers” Initiative

Patient event this Saturday commemorates grant

HOUSTON – Legacy Community Health, one of Texas’ largest community health systems, wins a Disney Be Inspired Grant for its Legacy’s Little Readers program, which has provided 47,000 books at no cost to the health center’s pediatric patients. Little Readers program is in partnership with H-E-B and the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation. The $500 grant was awarded to Legacy on behalf of Emily Wang, a 17-year-old student volunteer.

“We’re very grateful for Disney’s contribution to helping eliminate Houston’s literacy crisis,” said Debbie Costello, Legacy’s volunteer manager. “The more prescriptions for reading we can write to our pediatric patients, the better. And Emily’s enthusiasm for childhood literacy has helped to expand our program.”

On average, there is only one book available for every 300 children in low-income areas. Nearly 75 percent of kids in Houston are considered economically disadvantaged.

Legacy will celebrate Wang’s accomplishment and the grant with a special Little Readers event for pediatric patients on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11a.m. The event is located at Legacy’s Southwest clinic – 6441 High Star Dr., Houston, TX 77074. Pediatric patients will receive free books and participate in arts and crafts.

“I have always loved reading, so having this opportunity to help fight illiteracy was exciting for me,” said Wang.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, the connection between literacy and child development is an essential part of health care. Legacy provides books to children 6 months to 12-years-old.

 

Legacy Community Health, a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), provides comprehensive care to over 150,000 community members, regardless of their ability to pay, at 33 clinics in Southeast Texas. The agency provides adult primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN and maternity, behavioral health, HIV/AIDS care, and dental/vision.

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