Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation and Banks Across Virginia Contribute Nearly $125,000 to Sponsor More than 17,000 Virginia Students and Staff for Virginia Reads One Book

Article Monica McDearmon Virginia Bankers Association

Nearly 30,000 public school students and their families from across Virginia will read the same book on the same schedule starting Monday, March 3. It’s all part of Virginia Reads One Book – a statewide family financial literacy program designed to strengthen the educational connection between home and school from Richmond-based, Read to Them. The Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) Education Foundation and 23 banks across Virginia are proud sponsors of this program at 41 Title 1 elementary schools, sponsoring more than 50% of the total number of schools that will be participating in the program overall. This nearly $125,000 commitment supports more than 17,000 of the program participants.

The following banks provided direct financial support to schools across the state:

  • Atlantic Union Bank
  • Bank of Botetourt
  • Bank of Clarke
  • C&F Bank
  • Carter Bank
  • Chesapeake Bank
  • First Bank, Virginia
  • First Community Bank
  • First National Bank
  • Fulton Bank
  • Lee Bank
  • Movement Bank
  • National Capital Bank
  • Old Point National Bank
  • Powell Valley National Bank
  • Primis Bank
  • Shore United Bank
  • SouthState Bank
  • The Bank of Marion
  • The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
  • TowneBank
  • United Bank
  • Village Bank

During this three-week program, elementary students across Virginia will be involved in school and community events. “The program not only enhances students’ language skills, but it shows them reading is fun in an atmosphere that strengthens family and community interactions,” says Read to Them Executive Director Christa Donohue. “With the support of the VBA and banks across Virginia, the schools receive a book for every student and complimentary staff copies, both family literacy and financial literacy activities, school assembly suggestions, teacher resources, and both family and community engagement tools. These resources turn a book into a community experience so everyone can enjoy and share the story.”

Each student will receive a copy of the same book, The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. “Our statewide reading schedule will take about 15 minutes each night,” says Donohue, “putting the entire community literally on the same page. Their reading will be augmented with classroom activities, trivia contests, prizes and fun opportunities for family engagement.” 

Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and VBA President & CEO Bruce Whitehurst stated, “the VBA and banks across Virginia are thrilled to be able to sponsor Virginia Reads One Book for the eighth year. This program builds on other financial literacy efforts that banks participate in with their communities, including Teach Children to Save, Get Smart About Credit and the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program. We continue to be drawn to this program not only by the financial literacy focus of the book, but also the idea of bringing families together.”

The VBA Education Foundation and banks across Virginia are sponsoring schools in the following locations:

  • Arlington
  • Botetourt
  • Chesapeake
  • Chesterfield
  • Danville
  • Frederick
  • Halifax
  • Henrico
  • Isle of Wight
  • Lancaster
  • Lee
  • Lynchburg
  • Martinsville
  • Mathews
  • Pittsylvania
  • Richmond City
  • Roanoke
  • Smyth
  • Stafford
  • Surry
  • West Point
  • Warren
  • Williamsburg

For specific press opportunities, please email cowdom@vabankers.org.    

About Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation

The Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) formed the VBA Education Foundation in 2007 with funding from the majority of VBA member banks for the Walter Ayers Fund for Financial Education. The Foundation’s mission is to improve personal financial literacy and economic education in all public and private schools in the Commonwealth. The Foundation recognizes the importance of economic education and financial literacy in Virginia and supports the banking industry as a key participant in these areas. For more information, visit www.vabankers.org/vba-education-foundation.

About Read to Them

Read to Them is a Virginia-based non-profit promoting family literacy, with programs that have reached over two million families in over 3,000 schools in all 50 states.  When children become successful readers at an early age, academic success follows — increasing high school graduation rates and building the basis for a lifetime of learning and productivity. For more information, visit www.readtothem.org.