Madison Reading Project: Launching: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2024

More Information:
Rowan Childs, (608) 347-7970
Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com

1337 Greenway Cross, Suite 186
Madison, WI  53713
www.madisonreadingproject.com

Launching: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus 

Madison Reading Project’s newest book bus  – the only all-accessible free book bus in Wisconsin – launches May 18 to begin a year-round mission of bringing free literacy programs to children.

Madison Reading Project invites the community to attend the official launch, Saturday May 18, 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center concourse at the UW Campus, welcomed by host Wisconsin Athletics. 

Tours of both Madison Reading Project buses and other mobile partners, including Madison School and Community Recreation, local libraries, and Bucky Badger, will be featured. Plus, free books for all children attending!

“Our new book bus is ADA-compliant with wide aisles and a wheelchair lift, is fully accessible to all children, caregivers– and virtually all are welcome to climb aboard and pick books to take home,” says Rowan Childs, founder and executive director. “This vehicle joins our current one which has been on the road for more than five years.

“This model of providing books to kids at no cost and meeting them where they are at works with our partners to help raise literacy rates of youth and build home libraries while removing barriers to access,” Childs adds.

Madison Reading Project is thrilled to have the funding campaign nearly completed, with the help of corporate donors, local foundations, and individuals sponsoring the newly expanded bus program. 

Junior League of Madison has generously donated to the campaign and is offering a $50K matching grant now through the end of May to help reach the goal. To make a matching donation, visit:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fillthebuscampaign/event/bookbuspalooza/

“A gift in any amount will help our staff and volunteers reach thousands of children with free books and literacy engagement across the greater Dane County area,” says Emily Wills, Madison Reading Project development director. “The new Reading Bus holds three times as many books as the current bus, allowing us to break last year’s record of 124,000 books given to 100,000 kids.” 

“We’re already making plans with schools, social services organizations, and our community partners to bring the new bus to schools, neighborhood centers, and community events all over Dane County,” adds Deirdre Steinmetz, programs and operations director. “We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received this far and are excited to get the bus on the road and reach more kids.”

Madison Junior League is thrilled to partner in literacy improvement efforts. “By supporting Madison Reading Project, our members are helping to inspire children to become better readers,” says Sarah Barnes, Junior League president. “We are proud to help!”

Chartered in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Madison Reading Project has given more than 500,000 books to children living in nine (9) South Central Wisconsin counties. Much of the giving is targeted to under-resourced families and children needing literacy support.

—30—

MSCR & Madison Parks to Hold Hiring Fair

April 16, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Whitmore, Operations Manager, at lwhitmore@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-3036 or Nicole Graper, MSCR Marketing Specialist, at ngraper@madison.k12.wi.us or call 608-204-3017

MSCR & Madison Parks to Hold Hiring Fair

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) and Madison Parks are holding a Hiring Fair on Wednesday, April 17 at Madison Parks, 330 E Lakeside Street, 4-8pm.

Stop in and learn more about the wide variety of jobs in arts and enrichment, camps, fitness, outdoor pursuits, sports, swimming and more. MSCR has a job for every interest – visit with the energetic staff and schedule an immediate interview for a position.  

MSCR has approximately 150 job openings to fill this summer.  Starting hourly wages vary $15-$18.

MSCR jobs offer leadership skills development, valuable teambuilding opportunities and recreation program management education. Build close relationships with co-workers and supervisors and have a blast teaching others the lifelong benefits of recreation. 

According to Laura Whitmore, MSCR Operations Manager,  “As part of the MSCR Team, our employees make a huge impact on the Madison community by sharing their own passions in recreation and the arts. We are proud of the fact that many people choose to work at MSCR serving our Madison community, to have fun all the while building their own skills through supported, targeted training and hands-on experience.”

To join the MSCR team, stop by the Hiring Fair on April 17 or visit mscr.org/jobs.

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is Madison’s public recreation provider.  MSCR offers a wide variety of athletic, recreational, arts and enrichment activities and classes for all ages in an accessible, inclusive setting.  Visit mscr.org for more information or call 608-204-3000.

# # #

One Community Bank to Host First-Time Homebuyer Seminars

(April 2024) – One Community Bank is delighted to host a series of First-Time Homebuyer Seminars across South-Central Wisconsin this spring and summer. For those who are starting to explore the idea of home ownership, experts from OCB will provide details for each step in the home buying process and answer questions.

Read more here

Wisconsin Union: Summer by the Lake at the Terrace Kicks Off With Return of Chairs, Party on April 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Wisconsin Union Public Relations and Communications Officer
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/terrace-2024

SUMMER BY THE LAKE AT THE TERRACE KICKS OFF WITH RETURN OF CHAIRS, PARTY ON APRIL 17

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union’s historic outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace will reopen for the 2024 Terrace season on April 17 with the return of 2,000 green, yellow and orange sunburst chairs and a Wisconsin Union-hosted Opening of the Terrace Party.

The chairs will start to return the early morning of April 17 and will continue to return through the early afternoon followed by the Opening of the Terrace Party from 4-6 p.m. at the Terrace. The free party that kicks off a season of summer by the lake will feature an appearance by Bucky, free brats provided by Johnsonville while supplies last, a DJ performance, a performance by the University of Wisconsin Spirit Squad, free Terrace Lemonade and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade tasting, and free mocktail tasting.

Available on-site dining options include pub food destination der Rathskeller, pizza and pasta restaurant Strada, salad and sandwich shop Carte, dessert café the Daily Scoop, grab-n-go and snacks shop the Badger Market, beverages and snacks restaurant der Stiftskeller, and seasonal lakefront destination Lakeview Lounge.

At 7 p.m. on April 17, guests can attend an Open Mic Night hosted by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Music Committee and Moda Magazine, which marks the start of WUD Music’s nine-event music series WUDstock.

The Wisconsin Union team hosts Terrace season from late spring to early fall each year, including free film showings on Monday nights June-August, free concerts Wednesday-Saturday usually beginning in late May, free and low-cost art activities, and low-cost outdoor recreation experiences. The Union team will announce its film and music lineup in May at TerraceSummer.com.

The Wisconsin Union will soon make a Terrace Festival Package available for purchase, which will include a limited-edition t-shirt, a limited-edition button, a coupon card redeemable for monthly free food items, and more.

“Terrace season is really a three-month-long festival of free music, free movies, free and low-cost art, and so much more. It’s the perfect way to spend summer by the lake,” Wisconsin Union Deputy Director Susan Dibbell said. “There’s nothing else like Terrace season in the country, and no Wisconsin summer is complete without a Terrace visit, whether someone lives here or is visiting.”

The Wisconsin Union team is planning its programming and overall Terrace experience with the theme “Summer by the Lake” in mind.

“With music, great food, lakefront relaxation, and unique opportunities to make lasting memories with friends, family or colleagues, visits to the Terrace deliver the essential Wisconsin lakeside summer,” Public Relations and Communications Officer Shauna Breneman said.

The Wisconsin Union team anticipates opening seasonal dining options the Brat Stand on April 19 and the BBQ Stand on May 3, weather permitting. Coffee and tea café Peet’s Coffee is anticipated to reopen in late April with double its previous beverage-making capacity.

The Wisconsin Union held its first full Terrace season in 1929. Today, the space welcomes almost 1 million people each year, and its Wisconsin-crafted, metal sunburst chairs are trademarked and widely regarded as beloved symbols of Madison and summer in Wisconsin.

Most Terrace season events and most other events held by the Wisconsin Union are created by student leaders in WUD, who gain hands-on professional experiences through their Wisconsin Union leadership roles. Some WUD students receive up to 80% of their in-state tuition paid through Wisconsin Union academic stipends in recognition of their responsibilities contributing to student life and culture.

The Wisconsin Union is a non-profit organization that does not receive any taxpayer dollars to support its Terrace operations, Terrace season events, or year-round patron services, such as its open arts studio and outdoor recreation. Purchases at Memorial Union and Union South as well as its outlying markets and cafes, tax-deductible donations, and membership purchases help make Terrace season and other Union experiences and spaces possible.

Most of the events that occur at the Terrace during Terrace season also occur inside the Union’s spaces from late fall to early spring, including free film showings at the Marquee at Union South; free and low-cost art events at Memorial Union; and free, live music at both Union South and Memorial Union. Guests can continue to enjoy events indoors at Memorial Union and Union South while awaiting Terrace summer programming and can do so again when Terrace season ends. 

Patrons can visit TerraceSummer.com for Terrace season details.

-###-

About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Concerts on the Square Volunteer Affiliate Program Applications Open

Apply for your business to be a Volunteer Affiliate for Concerts on the Square!

Annually, the WCO selects six local small businesses to feature as Concerts on the Square Volunteer Affiliates. Each business will be given marketing opportunities in exchange for volunteer time at the event their business is assigned to. You can learn more and apply at https://wcoconcerts.org/concerts-tickets/concerts-on-the-square/volunteer-affiliate-program.