95 “Knowing you’ve made a difference in one person’s life, whether it’s an adult or a child, means your life is worthwhile.” A quote that John and Amanda Horne have made their mission, and unquestionably makes them a priceless part of our community. This summer, the Hornes undertook a new mission with the launch of ‘Dive Into Reading.’ Three mornings a week, over a monthlong period, the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) in Ellenton was doing much more than serving meals. Over 60 volunteers mentored more than 75 kids, with one on one reading, as well as etiquette, and social skills. “I was talking with my friend Ed Viltz one day about a program he observed while visiting another city. After a brief description, I thought it would be perfect for us at the AMOB,” said John Horne. “When kids are away from school, there’s often no one encouraging them to read over the summer. We had the perfect clientele that had the time, and made perfect mentors to encourage kids to do just that.” And John joked: “Both Amanda and I have always had a passion for helping kids. Not having kids of our own makes it fun to dote on someone else’s - and then we get to send them home! We get to be the fun aunt and uncle. “We wanted to help them love reading books as well as having the opportunity to come to a restaurant, learn dining etiquette, have a great breakfast, and most importantly have uninterrupted one on one time learning to read. We hope this experience is empowering our kids to become an essential part of our community.” Amanda Horne continued: “John’s ��rst call was to our good friend Pam Truitt, with Truitt Consulting, who suggested we contact the Patterson Foundation and the Manatee County School Board. Everyone was so helpful and so supportive. Because we all share the same passion, and we’re working towards the same goal, it all fell into place perfectly.” “It’s truly tremendous partners that make a difference. There’s not one answer, one agency, or one organization, that is going to make all the difference. It’s everyone coming together, seeing what each other can do, and which obstacle they can minimize.” When the school administration approached Autumn Blevins, a Title One teacher at Robert H. Prine Elementary School in Bradenton, to be a teacher/ coordinator for the ‘Dive Into Reading’ program, she was excited to meet with John and Amanda. “It has been so rewarding watching the interact ion between the students and their mentors,” said Autumn. “This program is unique because of the community involvement. In just four weeks I’ve seen many of the kids become more engaged, con��dent, and excited about reading.” The teachers at Blackburn Elementary, James Tillman Elementary, and Palm View Elementary, were asked to identify children with low level reading skills and then reach out to the parents to encourage participation. “This is remarkable!” said Beth Duda, Director at the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. “We know that to have sustainable change in our
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