FOUNDATION WILL BENEFIT YELL LITERACY PROGRAM

A new foundation is in the works to elevate the three-hour YELL Day into a year-round approach to benefit literacy programs in the region.

Kim McDowell of the Southeast Missourian informed business leaders of the newly formed YELL Foundation Inc. during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee Friday at the Show Me Center.

The corporation, which is awaiting a not-for-profit designation, will take over the annual YELL program that has been jointly sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and Area Wide United Way since 1991.

YELL is an acronym for Youth Education Literacy and Learning. Each year volunteers take special newspaper editions to street corners in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and Chaffee and hawk them in the old newsboy style. The special newspaper features outstanding literacy projects in the area and short opinion stories by community members.

Proceeds from YELL are split between the Newspapers In Education program sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and literacy grants funded through United Way. Each community benefits from the street sales in their city.

More than $200,000 has been raised to date for literacy programs in the region.

"The excitement is that this project is growing in scope," said McDowell. "This is an opportunity for businesses, industries, civic organizations and individuals to help underwrite the project as corporate sponsors."

McDowell said the foundation was formed to elevate the popular program to a new level. YELL has been successful because some 300 volunteers step up for the short-term commitment, and their work yields long-term results, she said. The foundation will enable even more people to participate so that benefits can be more prevalent throughout the region, she said.

"Right now we're reaching 33 public and private schools with almost 4,000 papers and 3,000 Mini Pages every week during the school year," said McDowell. "This foundation will allow us to further YELL's learning and literacy goals even more."

There are three charter levels of corporate sponsorship available in the foundation:

-- Gold-level sponsorship requires a $1,500 donation and includes a one-year appointment to the foundation's board of directors, which will be responsible for awarding literacy grants for area programs.

-- Silver-level sponsorship is available with a $1,000 investment.

-- Copper-level sponsorship requires a $500 donation.

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Kim McDowell at 335-6611, extension 101.