In an effort to aid in literacy efforts throughout the Chattahoochee Valley, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley has successfully formed its newest program, “Learn to Read. Love to Read” book club. Eleven Club members from BGCCV’s J. Barnett Woodruff Club who participated in book club got the opportunity to travel to Zoo Atlanta for a day of fun and education. Members from the book club recently finished Newbery Medal award winning, The One and Only Ivan, which was about Zoo Atlanta’s own silverback gorilla. The book is inspired by the life of Ivan, who spent twenty-seven years in a shopping center before coming to Zoo Atlanta.  

J. Barnett Woodruff’s book club is an ongoing initiative to bring awareness to the importance of literacy for youth across the Chattahoochee Valley. Sixty-five percent of Georgia’s third graders lack necessary vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Youth not performing at grade level by 3^rd grade are more likely to struggle with school and drop out of high school. BGCCV is fighting against the alarming rates by creating book clubs in each of the five local clubs. President and Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Close, addresses the topic by crediting literacy as a “key to success” and “opportunity to open doors for the youth’s future”. With seventy-seven percent of Club members increasing their reading skills due to programs like the book club, BGCCV hopes to continue to tackle youth literacy head on.