Press Release for Black Stallion Literacy Foundation

ATTENTION: NEWS ASSIGNMENT DESK or EDUCATION REPORTER

HORSES INSPIRE STUDENTS TO READ

Black Stallion Literacy Foundation Sparks Imagination of First and Fourth Graders

What - The Black Stallion Literacy Program:

The purpose of this literacy program is to inspire and motivate children to learn to read and continue to want to read through the magic of live horses. The project offers two programs for first and fourth graders using the classic children books written by the late author Walter Farley.

"The proposition is simple: children, who learn to read, succeed; children who don't, fail - both in school and in life. The logical extension is also true; the more literate individuals are, the happier their lives are likely to be," says Mark Miller, Co-Founder, BSLF

The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation (BSLF) was co-founded in 1999 by two childhood friends - Tim Farley, son of the late Walter Farley, the world-renown author of one of the most popular children's books, "The Black Stallion" and Mark Miller, owner of the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Kissimmee, Florida. Since its inception, the BSLF has served nearly 400,000 students in Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia and Colorado with efforts underway this year to expand to Alabama, Missouri and Oklahoma.

When:   The program is offered to first graders in the spring of the school year when children learn about caring for horses by touching horses and then are encouraged to read to a horse!  They are given two hard back books to keep forever, both by Walter Farley, Little Black A Pony and Little Black Goes to the Circus, both are cherished by children.  The fourth grade program includes giving children Walter Farley's book, The Black Stallion to keep forever and as a reward for reading a book, the Arabian Nights Equestrian Show performs bringing the book to life.

The Fourth Graders will see the Arabian Nights Show in Arkansas

April 19th Barton Coliseum                      Little Rock

10:15 for fourth graders, the general public is invited to the 12:15 show

April 21st ASU Equestrian Center Jonesboro

April 22nd ASU Equestrian Center Jonesboro

April 23rd Bentonville Fair Grounds         Bentonville

April 26th Kay Rogers Park Arena            Ft. Smith,

10:30 for fourth graders and the general public

Location: The field trip where children read to a horse is held at a local farm or horse facility, where children enjoy seeing characters that are in their books, and are encouraged to know the joy of reading.  The fourth graders have a field trip to see the Arabian Nights perform in their state. (See dates and locations for Arkansas)

Why:

With students reading scores not meeting standards, the BSLF is a proven program to aid schools in meeting state standards while inspiring children to want to read more books.

So What?

Participating schools report not only an increase in enthusiasm for required reading, but also an increase in the circulation of library books. Further research has shown BSLF contributes to a dramatic improvement on standardized tests in both reading and writing.

Visuals:

  • Observe the excitement as first grade students rotate and experience four horse care learning stations (grooming, horseshoeing, feed and tack).  Fourth graders are delighted at the adventure and excitement encouraging their imagination as they read The Black Stallion.
  • Great visuals of children reading the first book they received as part of the BSLF Little Black, A Pony to their live equine friends. see the joy and excitement on the faces of fourth graders as they see their very own book come to life with the Arabian Nights Equestrian Show
  • Interview Tim Henderson, the new President of BSLF, "To watch how the books of Walter Farley truly impact children's imagination and their drive to read is not only magical but is a win-win for parents, teachers, students and the Foundation."

Media Contact: Laura Graves BSLF Southeast Coordinator

Phone: 870-746-4500 or 870-213-5216 or 870-213-5488 or the Kissimmee, Florida home office at 800-553-6116

*For more information about the Black Stallion Literacy Foundation log onto: www.bslf-online.org