The Carlson Law Firm, through its Carlson Cares program, gave back to the Round Rock community in a major way. Attorneys and legal assistants descended upon Bluebonnet Elementary on the last day of school to donate summer reading materials to the entire student population. Employees dressed as their favorite storybook characters to read to students, play games and give away over 400 books to students and staff.
Carlson Cares partnered with Leander Nutrition, Corporation Service Company, Advocate Capital, Precision Pest Management, Kapsner Chiropractic and the office of John R. Carter to ensure that Bluebonnet students have books to read at home while on summer vacation.
According to Bluebonnet Elementary Principal, Sam Soto, the school used to receive a grant for summer reading materials but has not received the grant in several years. Further, grants the school currently receives help students during the summer, but do not affect the entire student population the same way the Carlson Cares donation will.
“We recently had books donated to our second graders,” Soto said. “But as a campus, we have not seen a donation of this size. We are very grateful that this business reached out to form this partnership with us. We hope it continues in the coming years.”
Bluebonnet Elementary is a Title I school in Round Rock, Texas where 80% of the students are economically disadvantaged and 61.9% of students are considered at risk of not graduating.
“Reading is the primary path to closing achievement gaps and positively impacting students of all economic backgrounds,” Carlson Law Firm family law attorney Cheryl Powell said. “One of the ways we can improve achievement gaps in our community is by ensuring these students have the opportunity to read while they’re out on summer break. The school’s mission statement states: ‘Every student has the right to be prepared for higher learning, career readiness, and future endeavors.’ Providing summer reading books for the students is one small step we can take to help the students in our community be prepared.”
