Ed Note: This is a cross post from the blog of cncs.gov. You can find the original post here. 

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) kicked off its national Let’s Read. Let’s Move. summer initiative by joining the Junior League of Washington (JLW) to give away the first of more than 15,000 books to DC Public School (DCPS) students on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS, was joined by JLW President Wendy Cumberland, National Football League player Visanthe Shiancoe, NFL Players Association representative Joe Briggs, Junior League volunteers, and AmeriCorps members from DC SCORES and City Year. During the fun-filled afternoon, second-grade classes at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC, learned about healthy play and exercise with volunteers, read together in groups, and choose four books to take home and read during the summer.

Second graders at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC, hold up letters to form a Let's Read, Let's Move sign to celebrate a book giveaway at the school on May 29, 2013. (Corporation for National and Community Service Photo)

The Junior League of Washington is celebrating 100 years of serving the Washington, DC, community this year. As a part of its centennial celebration, the group launched Resolution Read, a year-long campaign to raise and donate 100,000 books to local children. More than 3,000 children will receive reading material as part of the larger 15,000-book donation. This includes all second graders attending DCPS schools in Ward 8, which is where Garfield Elementary is located, as well as children participating in the 2013 DCPS summer school program. The balance of the more than 100,000 books provided through the JLW’s Resolution Read have gone to children throughout the city.

CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer gets help from a student as she reads to children at Garfield Elementary School during a Let's Read. Let's Move. event in Washington, DC. (Corporation for National and Community Service Photo)

Second graders at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC, perform pushups during a Let's Read. Let's Move. event at the school on May 29, 2013. (Corporation for National and Community Service Photo)

Let’s Read. Let’s Move. is now in its fourth summer and is part of the United We Serve initiative. For more information or resources on how to address issues of summer learning loss, childhood obesity, and summer hunger, visit the Let's Read. Let's Move section of Serve.gov.