Patricia RollinsJune 23, 2022
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York to Honor Jack Pace, Partner, White & Case LLP
April 20, 2022, New York, NY — Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (ROR GNY) will celebrate serving New York’s youngest readers on October 3, 2022 at Tribeca Rooftop. Jack Pace, Partner at White & Case LLP, Chair of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, and long-standing early literacy champion will be honored for his years of dedication to the organization.
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Building on the unique relationship between families and medical providers, ROR GNY gives parents and guardians the tools they need to develop their children’s early literacy skills.
While this annual benefit is ROR GNY’s most important fundraiser of the year, the event has been interrupted for the past two years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization will host this long-awaited annual benefit to secure a substantial portion of the funds needed to continue to bring the gift of reading and early literacy to underserved communities across Greater New York.
The evening will recognize the collaborative effort of the ROR GNY community and honor Board Chair Jack Pace’s outstanding commitment to early literacy. Jack is a member of White & Case’s leading global antitrust practice and has been recognized as a leading antitrust lawyer by several publications, including Chambers, Legal 500, the New York Law Journal, and Law360. Jack also regularly writes and lectures on topics including antitrust, class action litigation, and the economic issues underlying competition law. Additionally, he has done extensive work on behalf of the firm’s pro bono clients. His work as Chair of the Board of ROR GNY has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Greater New York.
“Jack’s leadership and commitment to Reach Out and Read of Greater New York is unmatched,” says Emily Marchese, ROR GNY Executive Director. “His dedication over the last 18 years has helped us put over 300,000 books in the hands of the families we serve over his tenure with the organization – many of which were the first books in the children’s home libraries.”
After 25 years of service, ROR GNY has reached a critical moment in its development and is committed to ensuring every child receives an appropriate and accessible book at each wellness check-up. In lower income neighborhoods in New York, there can be as few as one book available for every 300 children. The impact of this deficit cannot be overstated – especially when research continues to show the link between parents reading to their children and the significant positive impact it as on children’s academic performance, as well as their social-emotional development, like the landmark study from Dr. Alan Mendelsohn of the NYU School of Medicine demonstrates.
The benefits of Reach Out and Read’s model are significant across the board. Research illustrates that increased exposure to Reach Out and Read leads to larger increases in language scores, and caretakers who are introduced to Reach Out and Read demonstrate a significant increase in compliance with Well-Child Visits
. There is even new research that found that Reach Out and Read enhances clinic morale, increases provider satisfaction, and improves patient-clinician relationships.
“Reading at home with my girls has given me some of my happiest memories and reminded me how my parents’ love of books was a gift they gave me,” says Pace. “Helping to make those memories possible for the next generation of New York children drives us in this work. I love knowing that our efforts help show these families that reading is something they can do with their children that is fun and will have an unforgettable generational impact across lifetimes.”
About Reach Out and Read of Greater New York:Reach Out and Read of Greater New York prepares young children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read provides books, training, and support to 230 program sites throughout New York City and in counties in the Greater New York Region. The organization has trained more than 5,000 doctors in the Reach Out and Read model and regularly distributes 250,000 children’s books each year.To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, and/or contribute to the success of the Benefit, please go to www.reachoutandreadnyc.org/2022-annual-benefit.
To learn more about Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, check out this NY1 story on how the program works.
Contact: ROR GNY Development Manager
Patricia Rollins
prollins@reachoutandreadnyc.org
(646) 893-7333