MEDIA ADVISORY March 1, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 CHRISTIE VILSACK TO READ TO CHILDREN AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH THURSDAY AFTERNOON Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack will celebrate Read Across America Day on Thursday, March 2, by reading to children at a Reading is Fundamental Book Party starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First Christian Church, 25th Street and University Avenue. Approximately 300 children and their parents have been invited to the party, which is designed to promote literacy among families served by Drake University Head Start, the Drake Adult Literacy Center and the Drake Community Center, which is housed at First Christian Church. The National Education Association has organized Read Across America Day to mark Dr. Seuss' 96th birthday. One of the author's most famous characters, the Cat in the Hat, also will be at the party to read to children, and each child will select a book to keep. The NEA's goal for Read Across America Day is to have every child in every school in the country be read to by a caring adult on Thursday, March 2. More information about Read Across America Day is available at www.nea.org/readacross/.