On Thursday, October 6, 2011, THINK Together's Early Literacy Program participated in Jumpstart's National Read for the Record, an event held nationwide to bring attention to the importance of early literacy particularly for children from lower income households who do not have access to books prior to entering kindergarten. The annual goal of the event is to have the same book read by volunteers and parents to children nationwide on the same day. This year, the national goal was to read to at least 2 million children. THINK Together coordinated three large-scale Read for the Record events at Westfield MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, the Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine, and the Barnes & Noble Metro Pointe store in Costa Mesa, and made the book read nationwide - Llama Llama Red Pajama - available at school sites for parents and volunteers to also read to children in the extended learning time programs. 
Along with the dozens of corporate volunteers, parents and staff who participated in the large reading events, the events also showcased celebrity guest readers, including the LA Galaxy street team, Los Angeles Lakers Girls, Santa Ana firefighters and law enforcement officers, and THINK Together Founder/CEO Randy Barth. In addition to receiving tips on encouraging reading and vocabulary development in young children, parents were also given the opportunity to choose a book to take home. THINK Together's Read for the Record activities in Orange County reached 40,100 children - a 1,100 increase over the 2010 reading total goal. THINK Together's Early Literacy Program reaches more than 57,000 youngsters and their parents annually at 91 locations, including schools, community sites, and pediatric clinics in Orange CountyClick here for more pictures of the Read for the Record event
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