Ahoy There, Literacy! Grand Lake Yacht Club Sails Books into Pre-Schools
Grand County’s youngest readers are setting sail on a lifelong love of learning, thanks to the generosity of the Grand Lake Yacht Club. This summer, the club hosted a Dr. Seuss book drive during their annual Regatta Week, resulting in over 154 brand-new books destined for small hands.
The yacht club, known more for its sailing competitions and festive gatherings, collaborated with Friends of Grand County Library and Grand Beginnings to ensure these literary treasures reached their intended destination: preschoolers throughout Grand County.
The heartwarming brainstorm behind the book drive originated with Sabrina Smith, who, along with Tonya Munn, drew inspiration from the event’s Dr. Seuss theme this year. Both women share a passion for writing, making this theme feel particularly close to their hearts. “
"The importance of early literacy is paramount for future learning, critical thinking, and growth," Tonya shared. "We saw this as an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and support early literacy in a fun and meaningful way."
The yacht club’s expansive membership of around 300 individuals embraced the mission wholeheartedly. Members pitched in by purchasing books, making financial donations, or offering their time to help distribute the literary bounty.
While charitable initiatives have long been a part of Regatta Week, this book drive marks one of the club’s largest philanthropic endeavors. Tonya expresses hopes that this heartwarming example will inspire similar projects in the future.
On October 23rd, Commodore James "Scott" Munn, Tonya, and Sabrina sailed into Granby Play Days Preschool, where they treated the eager students to a reading of "Green Eggs and Ham." Each child then received a brand-new Dr. Seuss book to take home and cherish.
Reflecting on her own childhood, Tonya recalled the joy she found in Dr. Seuss’s stories.
“I love his use of language, how he creatively plays with words,” she said.
Thanks to the Grand Lake Yacht Club’s initiative, hundreds of young readers in Grand County are now embarking on their own Seussical adventures, all thanks to the club’s dedication to literacy and community support.
[Image Title: Commodore James “Scott” Munn, Tonya Munn, Doug Smith, Sabrina Smith and others from the Grand Lake Yacht Club pose happily during their annual Regatta Week]
[ImageTitle:SabrinaSmithandTonyaMunnsharethejoysofreading[ImageTitle:SabrinaSmithandTonyaMunnsharethejoysofreading"Green Eggs and Ham" with preschoolers at Granby Play Days Preschool].
## Setting Sail for Literacy: grand Lake Yacht Club Donates Hundreds of Books to Preschoolers
The Grand Lake Yacht Club recently showed its commitment to the community went far beyond sailing. This summer, the club orchestrated a successful Dr.Seuss book drive during their annual Regatta Week, collecting over 154 brand-new books for preschoolers throughout Grand County. Today, we sat down with **Tonya Munn**, one of the organizers behind the initiative, and **Sabrina Smith**, Commodore James “Scott” Munn’s wife and fellow book drive champion, to learn more about this heartwarming project.
Both Tonya and Sabrina share a passion for literacy and a fondness for Dr. Seuss, making this year’s Regatta Week theme an ideal prospect to combine their love of books with community impact. The initiative aimed to support early literacy, a crucial foundation for future learning and development.
**From Regatta to Reading:**
### The Inspiration Behind the Book Drive
**Interviewer:** Tonya, what sparked the idea for this book drive?
**Tonya Munn:** the Dr. Seuss theme for Regatta Week this year really resonated with Sabrina and me. We’ve always been avid readers and have fond childhood memories of Dr. Seuss’ whimsical stories. Knowing the importance of early literacy, we thought, “What better way to celebrate than by giving back to the community and putting books into the hands of young readers?”
**Sabrina smith:** We saw this as a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of Grand County’s youngest learners.
### A Community Effort
**Interviewer:** How did the Grand Lake Yacht Club members embrace this project?
**Sabrina Smith:** The response was overwhelming! Our members are incredibly generous and community-minded. They enthusiastically purchased books, donated funds, and volunteered their time to make the book drive a success.
**Tonya Munn:**
It was truly heartwarming to see everyone come together for this cause.
**Interviewer:** Can you elaborate on the impact of early literacy and why it’s so important?
**Tonya munn:** **Early literacy is the bedrock for a child’s future success.** Studies show that children with strong language and reading skills are better equipped to excel academically,socially,and emotionally. By nurturing a love of literacy early on, we’re setting these children up for a brighter future.
### Setting Sail for a Brighter Future
**Interviewer:** What are your hopes for the future of this initiative?
**Sabrina Smith:** We’re absolutely thrilled with the success of the book drive this year.Our hope is that this will inspire other community groups and organizations to support early literacy initiatives in Grand County.
**Tonya Munn:** We want to create a ripple effect, encouraging others to champion the importance of reading and make books accessible to all children.
**Interviewer:** What message would you like to share with readers about the importance of supporting literacy programs?
**Tonya Munn:**
**”Investing in literacy is investing in our future. Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of reading.”**
**Sabrina Smith:**
“Even small actions, like donating a book or volunteering at a local library, can make a world of difference.”
The Grand Lake Yacht Club’s book drive is a shining example of how community spirit and a love of reading can come together to create a brighter future for the next generation.
**Want to get involved?** Check out Friends of Grand County library or Grand Beginnings to learn more about supporting early literacy initiatives in your area.
**related Articles:**
* [link] The Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children
* [Link] How to Create a Literacy-Rich Home Surroundings
