Read Aloud Nebraska

"The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading."

Mem Fox
Reading Magic

RAN Champions

This annual award gives Read Aloud Nebraska an opportunity to acknowledge
an individual or group that has made a significant contribution toward our mission
of “promoting healthy, successful children and families through reading aloud”.

Governor Dave Heineman
and First Lady Sally Ganem
2006

Governor Dave Heineman and First Lady Sally Ganem have been strong advocates for reading aloud to children in Nebraska. Governor Heineman regularly signs our “Read Aloud to a Child Month” proclamation and has shown his support for our “Read Aloud Schools” and “Read Aloud Communities” program. Sally participates as a member of the Read Aloud Nebraska Board of Directors and regularly spends her time traveling around the state to read aloud to school groups.

Mark Claussen
2006

Mark Claussen, a school psychologist with Norfolk Public Schools, has chaired the Read Aloud Nebraska organization since its inception. He was instrumental in bringing prominent speakers to Nebraska, including Mem Fox and Jim Trelease. Within Norfolk and throughout the state, Mark has been a hardworking advocate for reading aloud.

KOLN/KGIN Channel 10/11
2005

Tim Munn (Creative Services Supervisor) and Renee Sorensen (Promotions/Public Service Director) accepted the award for KOLN/KGIN Channels 10/11, which worked with Read Aloud Nebraska from 2003-2005 to develop two separate public service announcements featuring First Lady Stephanie Johanns. The public service announcements, which were shown statewide, promoted the importance of reading aloud to children as well as the consequences of not doing so.

Runza Restaurants
2004
Runza

Through its Communications Manager, Becky Richter, Runza Restaurants across the state have been willing to help promote “read aloud” activities in the communities they are a part of. Becky represents Runza Restaurants as a member of our board of directors. Runza Restaurants has been an active participant in each of Read Aloud Nebraska’s annual programs through the donation of meals to adult and student participants.

Stephanie Johanns
2003

As Nebraska’s First Lady, Stephanie has taken advantage of every opportunity to help us promote “reading aloud” to children and frequently participates actively in this activity. She has served as an honorary member of our board of directors and has given her time to help us develop a public service announcement that has appeared in many parts of the state.