Reading Improvement Center to mark 25th anniversary May 10

The Reading Improvement Center in Greencastle is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The Center is marking this milestone on Thursday, May 10. An open house will be held at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church from 3-4 p.m.

DePauw University tutors and their students will be demonstrating some games an activities.

An informal reception will follow from 4-6 p.m. at the Inn at DePauw Galleria. Supporters of the program, including donors and tutors, will be honored for their contributions. The public is encouraged to attend.

The Reading Improvement Center was established by a group of teachers. Its mission is to provide low-cost individual reading help to children and adults whose reading ability keep them from succeeding at school or work.

The Center has grown into a multi-faceted program offering both in-school and after-school help to more than 50 students each year.

The "Tutoring at Gobin" program provides after-school reading and homework help four days a week at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church. DePauw students serve as both tutors and mentors. Cathy Merrell is the coordinator, and reading professionals Ellen Dittmer and Lucy Wieland create and direct the intensive reading instruction.

DePauw tutors also do in-school tutoring at Greencastle High School. In addition to the Greencastle programs, tutoring is offered through the Knoy Resource Center at Cloverdale Elementary School.

More than a thousand Putnam County students have received tutoring and homework help from Center tutors. Last year alone, nearly 60 student and volunteer tutors provided more than 2,000 hours of individual reading instruction and help to students in Putnam County.

The Reading Improvement Center is funded by area donors and organizations and is a partner of United Way of Putnam County.