BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, April 29, 2024—Education nonprofit Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge and PSC Group’s Helping Hands Foundation (PSC HHF) is proud to announce the return of the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) event, now in its second year, during Teacher Appreciation Week. Scheduled for May 9th from 8:30 - 10:00 am CT at Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy, this event aims to foster a love for reading among middle school students while honoring the dedication of educators.

The Drop Everything and Read event will feature PSC Group employees who will serve as volunteer readers for the full hour as part of their PSC Helping Hands Foundation’s commitment to serve the employees and communities in which they work through volunteer projects, disaster response, event sponsorships, and corporate giving. They will engage with 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students through interactive sessions centered around specially chosen book titles:

• 6th grade: The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Peterson
• 7th grade: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
• 8th grade: Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

PSC Helping Hands Foundation’s commitment to education is reflected in the purchase of summer reading books for each student attending the event.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy and to support our local community through initiatives that promote literacy and education," said Shannon Bennett, Executive Director of PSC Helping Hands Foundation. "The Drop Everything and Read Hour is a testament to the transformative power of books and the dedication of educators in shaping the minds of tomorrow."

The event will include hour-long lessons led by PSC Group employees on the selected books, enhancing students' understanding and excitement about reading. To ensure a structured and enriching experience, Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge is creating detailed lesson plans for PSC Group employees to utilize when they visit classrooms.

“TFA Greater Baton Rouge has made a deep commitment to improving student literacy in our community,” shared Laura Vinsant, Executive Director of TFA Greater Baton Rouge. “It’s critical that we do what we can to provide opportunities to our young students to improve their literacy and develop a love of reading, and we’re grateful to PSC Helping Hands Foundation for their ongoing support.”

Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy supports 200 students in grades 6, 7, and 8, and is a nationally-certified magnet school within the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools System. The school's vision is to integrate a rigorous 21st Century learning environment that will produce global learners, independent thinkers, and future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The goal is to encourage, educate, and prepare today’s youth to pursue careers in STEAM-related fields.

"I am thrilled to welcome back the Drop Everything and Read event to Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy, " said Principal Jannette Davis. “This initiative not only encourages our students to delve into captivating books but also underscores the invaluable partnership we have with PSC HHF. Together, we are nurturing a love for reading that will inspire lifelong learning, foster critical thinking, and develop essential literacy skills in our young learners." 

Available for interviews:

• Jannette Davis, Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy Principal
• Shannon Bennett, PSC Helping Hands Foundation, Executive Director
• Laura Vinsant, Executive Director, Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge

About Teach For America 

Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a diverse network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, Ignite fellows, and staff working in pursuit of profound systemic change so that one day every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About PSC Group and PSC Helping Hands Foundation

PSC Group has been committed to safely and efficiently meeting the product handling and site logistics needs of leading companies in the refining, chemical, and marine industries since 1952.  The company’s 4,600+ employees serve at more than 150 refineries, terminals, and chemical plants across the U.S. and Canada, providing expertise in tankering barges, operating terminals and docks, railcar repair and switching, warehousing, and loading/unloading of railcars and trucks with a variety of oil products, plastics, and chemicals. PSC also offers an array of sustainability and advanced recycling services to help reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.  PSC Helping Hands Foundation, a 501c3 organization, was founded in 2021 with a mission to support the communities where our employees live and work.  PSC HHF has a specific passion for enriching public education, supporting community needs, environmental stewardship and responding in times of natural disaster.  For more information about PSC Group or PSC HHF, visit www.pscgroup.com.