Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority’s “Bucks for Books” Program Winners

Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority’s ROSS Service Coordinator, Tina McBride, is responsible for providing activities and workforce development services to CPRHA residents in 8 sites across Russell, Dickenson, and Tazewell counties.

Tina had an idea in July to promote reading awareness over the summer months. She created a two-week challenge called ”Books for Bucks” that would encourage children to spend time reading. The challenge was simple: each kid had to read or be read to for 20 minutes a day for two weeks (for a total of 280 minutes). Those who completed the challenge would receive their own savings account and $10 from New Peoples Bank. Not only would children read during the summer, but they would also have an opportunity to learn about earning and saving.

When Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board heard about the challenge, staff agreed to donate another $10 to each winner, bumping up the reward to $20 per child.

The total time logged for the “Books for Bucks” was an impressive 2790 minutes (46.5 hours)! The 6 winners that completed the challenge were:

  • Fox Meadows – Ella Rutherford, 565 minutes

  • Fox Meadows – Mia Frazier, 337 minutes

  • Fox Meadows – Zander Frazier, 351 minutes

  • Fox Meadows – Miranda Mcvoy, 504 minutes

  • Fox Meadows – Caitlyn Taylor, 303 minutes

  • Centennial Heights – NyJae Vaughan, 440 minutes

Great job to all the winners!