New Philadelphia – The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center (ECOESC) hosted their 22nd annual Family Reading Festival at New Towne Mall in New Philadelphia with attendance from approximately 1,146 area students on Saturday, November 5. The organization gave away 1,759 free books to students ranging in age from birth to 8th grade.

Activity stations included balloon artists, temporary tattoos, class children’s book characters, readers’ corner, and vision screening from the Warwick Lions Club. Schools from Tuscarawas County were invited to set up a table based on the overall event theme “Get Wild with Reading” that included a fun table activity. 

Local organizations that set up tables include Tuscarawas County YMCA, Creative Fish Preschool, The Village Network, COAD Early Care and Education, ASPIES of Stark and Tuscarawas County, Warwick lions Club, Dover Public Library, Tuscarawas County Public Library, Bridges to Wellness, Takin’ It to the Schools (Ohio Guidestone), Tuscarawas County Family & Children First Council, St.John’s Pre-K, Tuscarawas County Health Department, Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services, HealthyTusc, First National Bank of Dennison, Newsymom, Challenger Baseball, and Help Me Grow. 

Participating schools include Claymont City School District, Quaker Digital Academy, and Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools. Judges awarded Tuscarawas Valley the winning table to receive the annual Traveling Trophy.

There were a wide variety of fun prizes for the kids to win such as, Play-Doh, board games, books, coupon books, toys, activity kits, puzzles, tickets to local events and businesses, and sporting equipment. The grand prize winner, Kyileigh Wilson of Conotton Valley, received a $500 gift card to The Wilds. 

The event was made possible by several sponsors including The Pro Football Hall of Fame, South Philly Pizza, AEP Ohio, Bowerston Shale, Clayland Lions Club, Connolly, Hillyer & Ong, Attorneys at Law,  Dee’s Restaurant, Dover Chemical, Dover Veterinary Clinic, East of Chicago Pizza, First Federal Community Bank, Gervasi Vineyard and Italian Bistro, Jeff Mathias Realty, Inc., Miller and Miller Insurance, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Nathan Springer, DDS MS, Nelson Insurance Agency, Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas, Peterman Plumbing, The Farm at Walnut Creek, Tuscarawas Literacy Coalition, Twin City Chiropractic, Williams Furniture, WTUZ Radio, Yaggi Cheese House, Inc., Buckeye Career Center, Cooper Standard, Dover Hydraulics, Eleet Cryogenic, First National Bank of Dennison, Fraternal Order of the Eagles #515, Kraton Chemical, SIMONA Boltaron, Wendy’s, Davis Family Charitable Fund, Mary Spies, DoverPhila Federal Credit Union, Haman Family Foundation, Provia, Walmart Community Foundation, Jeanne Souers Garcia Foundation, and VFW Club Post #1445.