Reprinted from the March, 2001 issue of Horizons

Oprah Congratulates the Reading Achievements of Tifton, Georgia

Helps Teachers Developing a Life Long Love of Reading

In the January issue of Horizons, we featured the reading successes of Tifton, a small community in Georgia. After reaching their goal of reading and passing Accelerated Reader quizzes on 1,000,000 books, the folks of Tifton proclaimed their town "Reading Capital of the World." Tifton’s accomplishments received notice from both Time magazine (10/23/2000) and the news show "20/20." And, adding to Tifton’s well-deserved recognition, Oprah Winfrey wrote to the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence to congratulate the community on its achievement. She wrote:

Hello students of the Accelerated Reader Program,

Thank you for the gazillion letters you sent telling me about your Accelerated Reader Program. I wish I could have joined you for the celebration, but taping three shows a day makes it very difficult for me to get away.

One of my favorite hobbies is reading. My parents used to require me to read at least one book a week and give a report to my family. As a result, reading has been my passion. Reading inspired my imagination to dream big dreams.

Keep doing the good work you’re doing, and continue reading—all kinds of books—it will make a monumental difference in your life.

Bravo—I’m proud of you.

Sincerely,

Oprah Winfrey

While recognizing the efforts of those working hard to promote literacy, Winfrey has shown her passion for reading and literacy in other ways. One such way is by providing funds to help schools promote reading through her "For a Better Life" foundation. In 1999, Debra Fjeldsted, a teacher from Meadows Union Elementary School in El Centro, Calif., wrote to Winfrey asking for assistance in implementing Accelerated Reader at her school. Winfrey responded with a letter and a check for $5,000. She wrote to Fjeldsted: "I hope this helps in continuing these students on the path to a better education and brighter future."

Thanks, Oprah, for supporting educators’ use of Accelerated Reader and for helping promote a life long love of reading in people of all ages.

© 2001 Renaissance Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.