Big Changes In Store

In case you missed it, this letter was sent to the SitStayRead email list yesterday.

After much deliberation, I have decided it is time to step down as Executive Director of SitStayRead. Over the past eight years, with your help and support, the organization has evolved from a dream to reality. To each of the 600 children we'll serve this year, SitStayRead means discovery, joy, and learning--something we can all be very proud of.

We have built a strong and durable enterprise that is poised to grow and impact many more children. With the past eight years as our base, I feel it is time to transition to new leadership who will optimize the growth and expansion that is our opportunity.

I will always be involved in SitStayRead as a volunteer and member of the corporation. Although SitStayRead represents only a portion of my work life, it is my life's work. I feel so lucky to have been led to this path by Shandy, the furry bundle of joy who was my constant companion for 17 years. Shandy's love of children inspired me to bring the healing power of dogs into the service of children. I am committed to participating in the growth of SitStayRead in her memory and glad to assist in that growth however I can.

Thank you for your kindness and friendship and for making SitStayRead the great organization it has become. I hope you will join me in continuing to support SitStayRead in its journey of greatness.

Gratefully,

MaryEllen Schneider

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Free T-Shirt for Momofuku Cookies

Have you heard about these crazy cookies? We were talking about them in the office this morning and all the volunteers asked for the recipe. My sister, Patti, made them over the weekend and they were awesome.

Free SitStayRead t-shirt to anyone who gives the recipe a try and brings cookies to the office to share!

Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie recipe by Christina Tosi (as seen on Regis & Kelly)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, unsalted
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp corn syrup [Note: I left this out; not because I'm against corn syrup, I just didn't have it. The cookies came out fine, though may have had a nicer sheen with the syrup.]
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsps Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups your favorite baking ingredients (options: chocolate chips, Raisenettes, Rollos, Cocoa Krispies)
1 1/2 cups your favorite snack foods (chips, pretzels, etc.)

Note: Patti used Ghirardelli chocolate chips and crushed pretzels and potato chips and Rice Krispies.

1. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugars and corn syrup on medium high for two to three minutes until fluffy and pale yellow in color. Scrape down the sides with a spatula.

2. On a lower speed, add eggs and vanilla to incorporate.

Increase mixing speed to medium-high and start a timer for 10 minutes. During this time the sugar granules will fully dissolve, the mixture will become an almost pale white color and your creamed mixture will double in size.

3. When time is up, on a lower speed, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Mix 45 - 60 seconds just until your dough comes together and all remnants of dry ingredients have incorporated. Do not walk away from your mixer during this time or you will risk over mixing the dough. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.

4. On the same low speed, add in the hodgepodge of your favorite baking ingredients and mix for 30 - 45 seconds until they evenly mix into the dough. Add in your favorite snack foods last, paddling again on low speed until they are just incorporated.

5. Using a 6 oz. ice cream scoop (I'm not sure how many ounces mine is, but it worked well), portion cookie dough onto a parchment lined sheetpan.

6. Wrap scooped cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour or up to 1 week.
DO NOT BAKE your cookies from room temperature or they will not hold their shape.

7. Heat the oven to 400 F. Take the plastic off your cookies and bake 9 to 11 minutes. While in the oven, the cookies will puff, crackle and spread.

At 9 minutes, the cookies should be browned on the edges and just beginning to brown towards the center. Leave the cookies in the oven for the additional minutes if these colors don't match up and your cookies still seem pale and doughy on the surface.

8. Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pan (good luck!) before transferring to a plate or an airtight container or tin for storage. At room temp, they'll keep five days.

Raise a Glass for SitStayRead!

We're happy to announce that a small quantity of Old Shore Vineyards 2010 "Sofia" Rose of Pinot Noir is now officially available to the public! Click here to purchase.

With subtle aromas of dark cherries, strawberries, and vanilla, this special reserve vintage is exceptional for more than taste; every bottle or case purchased supports SitStayRead. Click on Experience and then, Giving Back, to learn more.

And be sure to read all about the wonderful people at OSV--including the famous Sofia, vineyard dog and latest SitStayRead dog team member (pictured here with her dog team partner, Dannielle!)

Our New SitStayRead All Stars!

We're thrilled to announce that the 2011 batch of SitStayRead bookmarks has arrived featuring five new furry faces!

From left to right, we have Jack (winner of the silent auction bookmark package), Charlie & Emma (Dogs of the Year!), Bandit (seasoned SitStayRead Dog), and Feste (winner of the online auction bookmark package.)

Click here to find out more about these super star dogs! Give a big round of a-paws to these adorable pups!

Email from a Principal

That's Shandy with Evion, a young reader at Hendricks Academy, back in 2004. I can still remember how earnest Evion was when reading aloud. He'd be all smiles though when it came time to have Shandy do a trick.

Hendricks was our very first SitStayRead school and it is such a treat for the volunteers and dogs to return there each year. So you can imagine how thrilled we were to get this email from Principal Perisin.

"Here at Hendricks we are working to ensure that our students will have a world class education and you are helping me to fulfill that goal. Next year there will be some changes and we hope that you will still be working with us. You have been an anchor for our literacy program and we want you to continue the work."

Thank you Principal Perisin for your kind words--you can count on us to continue making reading fun for the fabulous students at Hendricks!

Welcome To Our New SitStayRead Dogs!

Today was an exciting day at the office! Two dogs passed the Dog Team Test to become part of our programs. Congratulations Smokey and Sofia!

Dannielle (on the right) is the proud handler of gorgeous Labradoodle, Sofia. You won't want to miss the new dog-themed wine that Dannielle, of Old Shore Vineyards, will be unveiling in the next few weeks to honor Sofia and benefit SitStayRead. Look for more details to come!

And no doubt you recognize our Admin Asst Amy and our office pup, the adorable Smokey.

Look for these great new teams in programs soon!

A Greater Good For Reading!

We are excited to share that GreaterGood.org has awarded a generous grant to SitStayRead! The prestigious London-based The Economist Group chose GreaterGood.org to fund an education project in the United States, and GreaterGood.org chose SitStayRead as the recipient. Yeah!! The grant of $11,800 funds an entire class of second-graders for the full school year!

We are honored to be affiliated with GreaterGood.org. Click here to check out the work they make possible through The Literacy Site website and be sure to click every day to help us reach more kids in need!

Here's what Lisa Halstead, board president of GreaterGood.org, had to say:

"We're very grateful to The Economist Group for providing the funding to enable us to support an entire year's worth of sessions for one school's second grade. And we are equally impressed with the quality of the program provided by SitStayRead. Through their innovative use of dogs and their dedicated volunteers, they have made an amazing impact on the lives of the children that they serve."

Click here or on the photo above to see the video that accompanied the grant announcement. The furry stars in this video include our very own SitStayRead dogs: Wrigley, Tojo, Spinny, Laverne, Lola, and Charley!