November 25, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Durfee) 1800 KINDERGARTEN - THIRD GRADE STUDENTS ATTEND VISA ³READ ME A STORY² PERFORMANCE Elementary students from schools throughout San Diego Unified School District will be entertained by the Visa ³Read Me a Story² program on Dec. 2. At 9:30 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. performances, students will learn that reading can be fun and educational. The ³Read Me a Story² tour is part of the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program that gives students books and helps them learn to read. RIF is a federally funded book give away program that provided 7,104 district elementary and secondary students with 21,306 books in 1996-97. The half hour performances will be held at Lincoln High School in San Diego (150 South 49th Street) and as part of the performances a Reading Checkup Guide developed by a team of literacy experts and commissioned by Visa will be distributed. The show itself features well known story book characters singing and dancing and a special story reading by the entire cast. Visa has guaranteed a $1 million minimum contribution to the RIF program and has assisted the San Diego Unified School District in some of the transportation costs related to the Dec. 2 performance.