User Profile

About Blogathon
From the official Blogathon web site: First some terminology: "blog" is a shortened version of "weblog" which is a frequently updated personal website. Most blogs have date stamps on the entries, and consist of links and commentary.

Now, remember when you were in school and you would bowl for charity? And for every pin you knocked down you got, say, ten cents? Or run for a dollar a mile? During the Blogathon, people update their websites every 30 minutes for 24 hours straight. For this, they collect sponsorships. Pledges can be a flat donation, or a certain amount for every hour the blogger manages to stay awake.

About My Charity
First Book is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children from low-income families with brand new books. Books have always played a large role in my life. Growing up, my dad would read The Berenstein Bears series to me almost every night. I learned to read at the age of three, and I've been an avid book reader since. My tastes are much different now, but I am still a fan of The Berenstain Bears and I hope to read the series to my children one day.

Reading is such an important and rewarding skill for children to learn and appreciate. According to statistics found on First Book's web site, the National Center for Education Statistics' evaluation of No Child Left Behind reading proficiency scores in 2005 found that 36 percent of all 4th graders scored in the "Below Basic" proficiency level, and 54 percent of 4th graders eligible for school lunch program scored in the "Below Basic" proficiency level (1).

What I Will Be Blogging About
From reading the experiences of others who have participated in previous Blogathons, I have come up with a blogging plan that I hope to carry me through the 24 hours. Since I am supporting a literacy organization, I want to blog about books. This blog will featuring personal commentary on books that I have read (please check out my LibraryThing account), websites I discover on the subject of reading and books, and really anything pertaining to books, reading, literacy, words, etc. Hopefully you will find this blog as rewarding as I hope it will be.

How You Can Support Me
Staying up for 24 hours is going to be a challenge. If you would like to help me out through our own computer, please leave me comments on this blog. You do not have to register with Livejournal to leave me comments. If you use AOL Instant Messenger, please send me messages (my screenname is oliviaohmy). If you know my e-mail address, feel free to drop me an e-mail or five. Keeping me entertained = keeping me awake.

If you would like to sponsor my blog, please click here. All sponsorship pledges will be donated directly to First Book. You can sponsor me for as much or a little as you want, and you can sponsor by the hour or one large sum. Even a $1 sponsorship would be fantastic... as long as something is earned for First Book. ♥