Amarillo Gazette

Northwest Texas Hospital issued the following announcement on Mar. 3

Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS) is pleased to announce the launch of “Born to Read 806,” a collaboration between NWTHS, Storybridge, and the Amarillo Public Library (APL). Thanks to funding by the NWTHS Auxiliary, the Friends of the Public Library, and the Balliett Foundation, Storybridge has purchased 2,400 copies of the popular board book "Go, Dog. Go!" (and "Ve, Perro. Ve!") to be distributed by the Northwest Childbirth Center to every baby born at NWTHS for one year.

Literacy is an essential component of overcoming poverty and the development of literacy skills begins in infancy. If you believe in the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” then you understand that there is no better day to start being intentional about the literacy of our children than their first day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading aloud with young children is one of the most effective ways to expose them to enriched language and to encourage specific early literacy skills needed to promote school readiness.

“As Storybridge works to make a difference in the academic outcomes and future success of our children with limited resources, we are constantly asking ourselves, 'How can we get books to them sooner?'," stated Chandra Perkins, Storybridge Director. "There is just no better solution than giving them a book when they’re born. And this is the perfect team to make that happen! The partnership between Storybridge, APL, and NWTH is a beautiful picture of what is possible when the mission of each entity is clear and innovation is encouraged. I see Born to Read 806 as a collective message to our children from their hometown: We believe in your potential, and we are willing to invest in your future here.”

Mission Statements

Northwest Texas Healthcare System: We are committed to providing safe, superior quality healthcare services that patients recommend to family and friends, physicians prefer for their patients, and purchasers select for their clients.

Storybridge: To remove barriers to early literacy for at-risk children by providing free access to quality, age-appropriate books. 

Amarillo Public Library: To enhance knowledge, empower individuals, and enrich our community.

Original source can be found here.