Hollywood, FL — Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“Universal”) and the UF Lastinger Center’s New Worlds Reading Initiative were welcomed by students and administrators at Driftwood Elementary to host a Family Literacy Event on Friday, December 5, and spark excitement for reading.
Attendees enjoyed a read‑aloud of The Grasshopper and the Ants, reading activities guided by New Worlds Reading specialist Magda Morice, and meet‑and‑greet sessions with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Local students received a free copy of The Grasshopper and the Ants / El Saltamontes y las Hormingas by Darice Bailer, a bilingual Spanish paperback to enjoy at home with a family reading guide.
Sixty second-graders had the opportunity to ask Marino about his football career and favorite books! The former Dolphins player emphasized the importance that reading played in his life and success as a quarterback.
Universal’s CEO, Steve Donaghy, spoke to the students about the importance of reading and imagination.
“Helping kids learn to read is one of the most direct ways to empower families and communities. Through Universal Cares, we focus on investing in youth, and literacy sits at the center of that work. That's why we're proud to support New Worlds Reading, helping put more books in homes so more Florida students grow into confident readers. We've contributed $5 million to back this vital program, which delivered over 4 million books and reading materials to more than 300,000 students statewide over the last school year," Mr. Donaghy said.
Support from corporations like Universal has helped New Worlds Reading send more than 12 million books to more than 500,000 Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (“VPK”) through fifth grade students in Florida since 2021 in public and charter schools who are struggling with reading. The program has shown that enrolled students scored up to 15% higher on reading assessment scores than their eligible non-enrolled peers.
“We are deeply appreciative of the Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company for their commitment to reading achievement through New Worlds Reading," said Jessica Long, New Worlds Reading Senior Director of Advancement. "It was great to see the students uplifted by Mr. Marino's story of how reading helped fuel his football success that inspires so many others!"
About New Worlds Reading: New Worlds Reading is Florida’s free at-home program that helps eligible VPK through 5th graders strengthen literacy skills and spark a lifelong love of reading. Enrolled children receive 9 free books that they choose each school year through fifth grade, along with reading activities and resources families can use to help build kids’ reading skills. Books and materials are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille. New Worlds Reading is administered by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. Book titles are selected in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and Scholastic.
Families interested in receiving books and reading activities from New Worlds Reading can apply at www.newworldsreading.com.
Florida companies interested in earning dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations to support the state’s young readers can learn more at www.newworldsreading.com/fl/en/donations.html.