On the 25th听听anniversary听of the听deadliest听terrorist听attack on American soil, 麻豆传媒 (PBA) partnered with the United Way of Palm Beach County听to give back to the community听by creating literacy kits at the Literacy Coalition听of Palm Beach County.听
鈥淓very year on 9/11, we set up a few different projects to make a difference in the community,听and we know literacy is so important,鈥澨齭aid听United Way of Palm Beach County Director of Volunteer Engagement Nubia Ortega.听
Turning听Remembrance鈥疘nto听Action by鈥疘nspiring a Love鈥痮f Reading听
Each literacy kit was creatively decorated by a volunteer and packed with puppets, worksheets, and a book听that听is intended to听inspire a love for reading and听make story time fun for children and parents alike.听
Over 25听volunteers, including PBA students and听employees,听supported听the initiative.听
鈥淭hinking about the significance of 9/11, whether you had direct ties to anybody who might have been a victim, I think we saw a world that put our differences aside and came together to do good for others,鈥� said Chau. 鈥淲henever you think about the heart of听Workship,听it鈥檚听being the hands and feet of Christ in the community,听so听we can go do good for others.鈥�听
In addition to honoring the anniversary of 9/11, the goal of the event听also听promoted听reading within the community. According to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County,听nearly half听of local听third graders struggle to read at grade level in Palm Beach County public schools. Plus, around听20%听of adults age 16 or older in the county lack basic literacy skills.听听听
The听literacy kits听will be delivered to听Title 1 schools听in听the county and听given听individually听to听pre-K and kindergarten students听through the United Way of Palm Beach.听
鈥淚t gives them a chance to engage in a story while also gaining the skill of being able to learn to read and听inspires听them,鈥� said Chau. 鈥淲e鈥檙e creating something that lets us express ourselves through art. Hopefully they might be able to see an artistic side to it too, outside of just reading a book.鈥�听
PBA Students Use鈥疌reativity and Service鈥痶o Make a鈥疞asting Impact听
Sofia Vega, a PBA听freshman听biology pre-health major听and volunteer,听enjoyed putting her own artistic touch on the literacy kits听and hopes it will inspire children to听use their imagination.听
鈥淏e creative.听When they see the activities in the kit, it will make them want to read more and get more involved than just听reading听a plain book with no coloring,鈥� said Vega.听
Workship is听PBA鈥檚 community听service program that combines worship and work听in response听to human needs with Christ-like action in the community and the world.听PBA students are required to complete at least听45 hours听of听Workship every year.听Since听its听launch,听students have completed听approximately听4.3听million hours听of community service听across the globe.听
PBA听Workship鈥檚 next project听will听be听a meal packing event on September 15,听2026,听inside the Kravis Center.听
To learn more about PBA鈥檚 Workship听program,听click听here.
