Celebrate Literacy Award

Deadline: Due to CRA by June 30th. Nomination Form (PDF)

Purpose

The Celebrate Literacy Award is an IRA Award recognizing organizations, institutions, and individuals that have made significant literacy contributions at the local, state, or provincial level. The hope is that the celebration will familiarize the public with literacy activities in the community and call attention to the work that is being done by the schools, councils, the California Reading Association and the International Reading Association to promote literacy worldwide. For additional information, contact Council Program Associate, of Council and Membership Services or read about it on the IRA Web Site: www.reading.org and download the form.

Eligibility

Each council should determine specific guidelines for the Celebrate Literacy Award. However, many associations follow the IRA suggestion that eligibility to receive the award be open to all segments of the community, state, or province—not just to those who hold membership in the organization. Many states and provinces follow the practice of accepting the recipients of the local councils’ Celebrate Literacy Award as nominees for the state or provincial level of the award.

Criteria

Candidates who have shown exemplary accomplishments in any of the following areas may be suggested for consideration as Celebrate Literacy Award recipients: (1) direct teaching at any level, (2) organizing local literacy programs, (3) promoting support from the public relative to enhancing literacy, (4) producing teaching materials or special media for literacy programs, (5) conducting research in field related to literacy, (6) conducting special surveys of importance for literacy planning, (7) providing young people the opportunity to help in literacy activities, and (8) conducting informal educational activities of a social, cultural, economic, or political nature in which literacy activities are included (radio and television programs, publications and press, library programs, and projects for special populations, such as the handicapped and the aged).

Award

If the council fills out the IRA form and submits it to the International Reading Association, IRA will send up to five certificates depending on the number of awardees. Or the local council can create their own certificates to honor the recipients. All recipients are noted in CRA’s annual PDI program as well as in the Winter Reader with one state-wide recipient recognized at a PDI award event.

Procedure

  1. Each nomination must include the following information:
       (a) name, address, and phone number of the nominee;
       (b) description of the contributions to literacy on which the nomination is based (not to exceed three pages); and
       (c) results of the contributions and their benefit to the community, state, or province on the nomination form.
  2. Because the intent of the Celebrate Literacy Award is to recognize truly exemplary and outstanding contributions to literacy, IRA asks that you request no more than five certificates. Return the completed IRA form to
       Celebrate Literacy Award
       International Reading Association
       800 Barksdale Road
       PO Box 8139 Newark, DE 19714-8139, USA
  3. IRA and CRA encourage each council to create its own “honorable mention” awards for others worthy of recognition. Each council may award as many of these honorable mention” awards as preferred.

Additional Information:

Mail completed nomination Form to CRA