BRADENTON, Fla. — Thirty-four staff members with the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller recently participated as mentors in the Dive Into Reading program created by the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, totaling approximately 272 hours volunteered.
The 2019 program served 365 children, who collectively read 13,730 books. Approximately 354 volunteers participated to help serve 11 Manatee County elementary schools.
For about two hours each week over the course of four weeks in June, the volunteers tutored potentially at-risk children to further develop their reading skills. The Dive into Reading summer program aims to improve children’s reading levels by combating the summer slide and continue a student’s education over summer break.
Many from the Manatee County Clerk of Court’s team met with children at the Bishop Museum – a few blocks from the courthouse.
“Our management-level staff had such a rewarding experience last year that I wanted to open up this volunteer opportunity to all of our team members,” said Angel Colonneso, the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. “During the last four weeks, we have truly enjoyed working with these students and assisting this valuable reading program.”
Starting in the summer 2017, the restaurant invited rising third graders from local schools to eat breakfast and practice reading. Since then, the program has expanded to incorporate other grade levels and grown with support from the community and local mentors.
About the Manatee County Clerk of the Court
The Florida Constitution established the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller as a public trustee, independently elected to protect public funds and public records while executing the functions of Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Comptroller, Treasurer and Auditor, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners and County Recorder. The Clerk oversees a staff of more than 275 people, responsible for performing nearly 1,000 constitutional or statutory functions or duties, representing the broadest and most diverse mantle of responsibility of any locally elected official. The citizens of Manatee County elect the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller to a four-year term. Currently, Angelina M. Colonneso serves as the Clerk of the Court. For more information, call 941-749-1800 or visit www.ManateeClerk.com.