The Local Council Community Service Award honors a local IRA council for outstanding service to its community and literacy. National affiliates are eligible in countries without local councils.
Many unique ideas have been realized through such community projects. Examples include information packets for parents of newborns, programs and materials for children and adults living in shelters, and reading promotion activities for the local library. These projects reach beyond their immediate community and become models that others can adapt to meet literacy needs outside the classroom. Entries must be postmarked by October 31 and received by November 7.
A winner and up to four finalists are honored each year at the annual convention.
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2008
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1st place
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Pierre Area Reading Council, Pierre, South Dakota, USA |
President: Kathy Kraft
Project: Mom’s Making Memories
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2nd place |
Rainbow Reading Council, Holly Pond, Alabama, USA |
President: Vickie Alldredge
Project: Promoting Literacy in Cullman County
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3rd place
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Niagara Frontier Reading Council, Depew, New York, USA |
President: Elizabeth Tynan
Project: Wild About Reading
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2007
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1st place
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Lawrence Area Reading Council, Kansas, USA
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President: Karen Stephenson
Project: Building a Foundation with Books
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2nd place |
Cherokee Strip Reading Council, Oklahoma, USA |
President: Victoria Wilson
Project: Helping Children in Need
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3rd place
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Twin Rivers Council, North Carolina, USA |
President: Margo Morris
Project: Annual Reading Fun Day
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2006
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1st place
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Delaware Valley Reading Association, Pennsylvania, USA
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President: Janine L. Sack
Project: Books + Books = Literacy in Norristown
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2nd place |
Elko County Reading Council, Nevada, USA |
President: Mary Licht
Project: Young Authors
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3rd place
(tie) |
Phoenix West Reading Council, Arizona, USA
Jefferson County Reading Council, Arkansas, USA
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President: Jerri L. Horning
Project: Run for Literacy
President: Paula D. Findley
Project: Read Across America
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2005
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1st place
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Hardy Reading Council, Iowa, USA
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President: Karla B. Bronzynski
Project: Books for Second Looks
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2nd place |
Eastern Shore Reading Council, Maryland, USA |
President: Jeanette C. Mears
Project: Ready For School
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3rd place |
White River Reading Council, Arkansas, USA
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President: Julie L. Huskey
Project: Run to Read
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2004
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1st place
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Guam Council of IRA Barrigada, Guam
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President: Rowena Dimla
Project: Y.A. Cafe
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2nd place |
Sagebrush Reading Council
Craig, CO, USA |
President: Charlotte Mason
Project: Books in Offices
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2003
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1st place
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Harnett Council
Raleigh, NC, USA
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President: Elaine DuPree
Project: Fostering Literacy Through Birthday Wishes
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2nd place |
Franklin County Reading Council
Ottawa, KS, USA
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President: Vickie Hall
Project: Franklin County Children's Literature Festival
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3rd place |
Duval County Reading Council
Jacksonville, FL, USA
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President: Beth Bradley
Project: Building Heart Into Reading
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2002
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1st place |
Greater Boston Council of the IRA
Lexington, MA, USA
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President: Jean Helstrom
Project: Storybook Character Breakfast
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2nd place |
Jefferson County Council
Jefferson County, CO, USA
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President: Elaine Andrade
Project: Backpack Buddy Program
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3rd place (tie) |
Apple Valley Reading Council
Auburn, NE, USA
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President: Sally Hutt
Project: Parade of Books
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3rd place (tie) |
Mahoning Valley Council
Youngstown, OH, USA
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President: Dora Bailey
Project: Hope Library
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2001 |
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1st place |
Springfield Council of Missouri
Springfield, MO, USA |
President: Laurie Edmondson
Project: Sky High on Reading
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2nd place (tie) |
North Central Reading Council
Minot, ND, USA
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President: Linda Hanson
Project: Beyond Bedtime Stories
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2nd place (tie) |
Jordan Council
Midvale, UT, USA
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President: Susan A. Mathis
Project: We Love Books
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2000 |
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1st place |
Mid-Columbia Reading Council
Mosier, OR, USA |
President: Karen Bailey
Project: Workplace Literacy Project
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2nd place |
New Hanover County Reading Association
Wilmington, NC, USA
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President: Ava Bevins
Project: Tales for Tots
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3rd place (tie) |
Missouri Southern State College Student IRA Council
Joplin, MO, USA
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President: Debi Hay
Project: Books, Books, Books
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3rd place (tie) |
Tulsa County Reading Council
Tulsa, OK, USA
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President: Nickie Inbody
Project: Elementary Young Authors;’ Conference
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1999 |
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1st place |
Harnett County Council
Lillington, NC, USA
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President: Mary Lou Mackintosh
Project: Books-N-Bags
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2nd place (tie) |
Greater Paradise Valley Reading Council
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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President: Carole Krag
Project: Hands on Books
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2nd place (tie) |
Emerald Empire Reading Council
Cottage Grove, OR, USA |
President: Nanci Strickland
Project: B.E.A.R. Faire (Be Excited About Reading)
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1998 |
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1st place |
Duval County Reading Council
Jacksonville, FL, USA
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President: Becky Rhoden
Project: Hubbard House Project |
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2nd place (tie) |
Saskatoon and District Reading Council
Saskatoon, SK, CAN
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President: Leslie Widdifield-Konkin
Project: Anytime Is Story Time...Give Your Child the Gift of Reading
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2nd place (tie) |
Metro Atlanta Council
Decatur, GA, USA
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President: Patricia Carter
Project: The Atlanta Project
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3rd place |
Tucson Area Reading Council
Tucson, AZ, USA
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President: Marilyn Ludwig
Project: Books for Tots to Teens
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1997 |
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1st place (tie) |
Laurel Reading Council
DuBois, PA, USA
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President: Karen Foster
Project: Reading: The Gift of A Lifetime Hospital Project
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1st place (tie) |
Twin Rivers Council
Havelock, NC, USA
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President: Pam Holder
Project: Reading Fun Day
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2nd place |
Arkadelphia Area Reading Council
Arkadelphia, AR, USA
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President: Rhonda Frederick
Project: Sharing Literacy: A Day Care Project
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1996 |
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1st place |
Greater Washington Reading Council
Burke, VA, USA
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President: Lynn Levin
Project: Book Beginnings: A Day Care Literacy Project
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2nd place (tie) |
MID-State Reading Council
Bloomington, IL, USA
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President: Sheila Diaz
Project: Book Showers for Literacy
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2nd place (tie) |
Delaware Valley Reading Association
Wyndmoor, PA, USA
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President: Anne Brown
Project: Homeless Children and Reading Committee (HCRC)
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3rd place (tie)
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Wabash Valley Council of IRA
West Terre Haute, IN, USA
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President: Janet L. Higgins
Project: Young Authors;’ Book Fair
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3rd place (tie) |
Mercer County Reading Council
Princeton, WV, USA
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President: Dawn Staten
Project: Family Literacy Day in the Park;—Family Literacy Center
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1995 |
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1st place |
Smoky Mountain Reading Council
Knoxville, TN, USA
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President: Bunnie Creasman
Project: Read to Me Package for Newborns
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2nd place |
Twin Rivers Council
New Bern, NC, USA |
President: Rosemary Enos
Project: Celebrations Project
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3rd place |
Mid Valley Reading Council
Corvallis, OR, USA |
President: Carol Brown
Project: Teen Mothers
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1994 |
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Winner |
Western Dunes Reading Council
Muskegon, MI, USA |
President: Joan Warnaar
Project: Muskegon Museum of Art and Western Dunes Reading Council Project
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Finalists |
Arrowhead Reading Council
Duluth, MN, USA |
President: Andrea Bauer
Project: Author Visit and Theatre Production |
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Lower Mainland Council of IRA
Vancouver, BC, CAN
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President: Honey Halpern
Project: First Visit Book Program
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1993 |
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Winner |
Glacial Lakes Reading Council
Hazel, SD, USA |
President: Elizabeth M. K. Parliament
Project: The Book Wish Project |
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Finalists |
Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Reading Council
Urbanna, VA, USA |
President: Eileen C. O'Brien
Project: Story Tapes |
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Kent Reading Council
Ada, MI, USA
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President: Kathleen D. Moxley
Project: Rock and Read
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1992 |
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Winner |
Wichita Area Reading Council
Wichita, KS, USA |
President: Carolyn Pitcher
Project: Foster Grandparents Summer Tutoring Program
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Finalists |
Osage Reading Council
Pawhuska, OK, USA |
President: Patsy Simmons
Project: Reading for All Ages |
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Kent Reading Association
Kent, WA, USA
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President: Joyce Ann Minehan
Project: Feed Me Books
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1991 |
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Winner |
Brooklyn Reading Council
Brooklyn, NY, USA |
President: Eticia Sosnick
Project: Brooklyn Reading Council;’s Community Outreach Program to Improve Literacy Skills of Homeless Mothers and Children at a Temporary Housing Setting |
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Finalists |
Metropolitan Reading Council
Omaha, NE, USA |
President: Cheryl Goodwillie
Project: The Listening Library for Elderly Citizens of the Omaha Metropolitan Area Confined to Nursing Homes
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Guam Council, IRA
Tamuning, GUM
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President: Sheryl J. Nist
Project: Clifford;’s Visit to Guam
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Fox Valley Reading Council
Oshkosh, WI, USA
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President: Debra J. Bunker
Project: Reading Awareness in the Community: Creating a Partnership between Business, Community, and School |
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East Central Reading Council
Altamont, IL, USA
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President: Karyn Grunloh
Project: School/Community/Business Project—“Day of the Young Reader”
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1990 |
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Winner |
Valley Reading Council |
President: Marcia A. Kenyon
Project: Red River Valley Task Force for Literacy |
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Finalists |
Raleigh-Wake Council of IRA |
President: Judy H. Rackley
Project: BYOB—Bring Your Own Book |
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Erie Reading Council
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President: Nancy Horner
Project: Erie Reading Council Goes to the Zoo
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1989 |
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Winner |
Newport News Council of Virginia |
Project: Books for Babies |
Advocacy Award
Local Council Community Service Award
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