What: This read-a-thon is a fundraiser for the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad (PFARS), sponsored by the Princeton Regional Education Association (PREA) and an educational event for children.
Who: It’s open to all children who live in or go to school in Princeton.
When: May 1st– May 14th, 2023. Look for materials the last week of April, set your reading goals and get your pledges from family, friends, neighbors, ask companies for matching donations! You do not need pledges to participate in the read-a-thon. Materials can be downloaded from the PFARS website!
How to Participate: See below for sign-up materials!
Why: PFARS provides emergency services to our community. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any hospital, medical, or government agency and does not receive funding through the town. Instead, it relies on fundraising, donations, and billing to keep the organization going and be able to provide our community with the help they need when an emergency arises. This fundraiser is an important source of revenue for obtaining much needed vehicles, like the Rescue Truck, and for supporting day-to-day operations.
Awards: All participants will receive an award and (with permission) have their name posted on the PFARS website! The top three readers with the most minutes read and the top three readers with the highest pledge totals will receive special prizes!
Educational Celebration: Sunday, May 21st, any time between 12 pm- 3 pm at Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad located at 2 Mount Lucas Road in Princeton.
EMS Week: This event kicks off National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, which takes place May 21st– May 27th, 2023. This week is for recognizing, celebrating, and showcasing the important work of EMTs and teaching children what to do in emergency situations. This year’s national EMS theme is “Where Emergency Care Begins”. Therefore, we invite you to the PFARS station to celebrate your reading accomplishments with us and be recognized for the time and effort you put into helping PFARS. Come visit the station, meet the EMTs, tour the ambulances, heavy rescue truck and other apparatus; and learn about emergency medical services and rescue in our town.
What to do with funds: Information about pledges can be found on the pledge form. Pledges can be a donation per minute of reading or a flat amount and can be paid online at www.pfars.org or by checks made payable to Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad. When paying online, please select the “In Support of Reading to Rescue Participant” option and enter the child’s name whom you are supporting so your gift is counted towards our goal. All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated!
How to submit your minutes: At the conclusion of the read-a-thon, your envelope containing your reading log, pledge form and pledges can be turned into your school, if your school is participating, or they can be dropped off at the PFARS building, 2 Mount Lucas Road, Monday, May 15th– Wednesday, May 17th between the hours of 9 am- 7 pm. Forms can also be submitted online. We kindly ask that all reading logs, pledge forms and pledges be turned in no later than Wednesday, May 17th to give us time to prepare for our event on Sunday, May 21st. We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please reach out to PrincetonReadingtoRescue@gmail.com.
Your generosity and support is what allows us to carry out our promise to the community, so please help us keep helping you and our Princeton community by Reading to Rescue!
Reading to Rescue Materials:
Forms are fillable so they can be downloaded, filled in electronically and then submitted to PrincetonReadingtoRescue@gmail.com.
They can also be printed and either scanned and submitted electronically or dropped off at the PFARS building, 2 Mount Lucas Road, Monday, May 15th– Wednesday, May 17th between the hours of 9 am- 7 pm or at your school no later than Wednesday, May 17th if your school is a participating school.
If you would prefer paper materials and did not receive them through your school, please stop by the PFARS building and we will be happy to provide you with those.
