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History
The Hooked on Books! Story
Oh, the Places We Have Been!
WE have read...
At St. Mary School (an inner-city school which has since been closed) from January 1991 to June 1994. Here Gannon students, Delta Kappa Gamma members, members of three of Dr. Dolores Sarafinski’s bridge clubs, and students from Edinboro University read to students one-on-one in grades K-5.
Its founder, Dr. Dolores J. Sarafinski a professor of English at Gannon University, directed the program. Dr. Sarafinski received a $3,000 grant from the Erie Community Foundation to initiate the program, and later received grants from Pennsylvania Campus Compact and the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities and Campus Outreach Opportunity League.
The administration of the program was based in Dr. Sarafinski’s office until she retired in 1997.
At the Neighborhood Art House from the summer of 1994 to the present. When Dr. Sarafinski retired in 1997, the three bedrooms of her home became the “office” of Hooked on Books!
The administration of Gannon University graciously agreed to pay the costs, for printing, postage, and some typing. When the work became overwhelming, Dr. Sarafinski paid for temporary office help. By this time she had began to recruit a small board which included Atty. Edward Betza of Elderkin, Martin, Kelly & Messina and Dr. Barbara Behan, Associate Vice President for Academic Services and Professor of Computer Services at Mercyhurst College. They too were personally subsidizing their area of the administration of Hooked on Books! providing the legal service needed to incorporate the organization and designing the computer program used to accommodate the needs of the growing Hooked on Books! program, which in a short time numbered 500 readers a year. In 2001 Hooked on Books! received a United Way Venture Grant for $3,850.00, which Gannon agreed to match by providing office space, supplies, postage, printing, telephone, etc. The grant paid for a lap-top computer with accessories and a student assistant.
At present, Gannon University underwrites the greater part of the expenses of Hooked on Books! Dr. Sarafinski has donated her full-time position as director for 13 years, other members of the board, donate from 2 to 10 hours a week supervising the reading program at the Art House and creating materials used in public relations, fundraising and recruiting..
However, Hooked on Books! is now a corporation of 18 Board Members who have taken on the mission of instilling a knowledge and love of books in inner city children. As an incorporation-domestic nonprofit corporation they administer the program and with the help primarily of Gannon University and other partners they finance the program.
Oh, the Places We Could Go!
The following sites have asked us to establish Hooked on Books! Programs
- 8 after-school programs in inner-city public schools
- 2 Erie inner-city agencies
- 2 county schools
- inner-city Catholic schools