News Article - 3 minute read

On December 18, 2023, Sigma Mu Mu Chapter, Third District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., launched its Winter Reading Campaign at Sugarland Elementary School in Sterling, VA.  The campaign is part of the chapter’s on-going Literacy Program that is designed to inspire and encourage children to continue reading over the long winter break.  To accomplish this goal, Sigma Mu Mu delivered approximately 900 books to Sugarland, ensuring each child had at least two books of their own to read over the winter break.  The books were donated to the chapter through its community partnership with the Loudoun County Toys for Tots Program.

For more than a decade, Sigma Mu Mu Chapter has served at-risk children and their families in the Loudoun community through several different initiatives. The chapter’s Literacy Program is one of the longest-running and most successful initiatives.  Sigma Mu Mu’s Civic and Community Affairs Committee co-chairman, Brother Leroy Ross, began working on the  Literacy Program with Sugarland Elementary School in 2012.  At the time, Sugarland Elementary had the lowest reading scores in Loudoun County.  “Our goal,” explained Brother Ross, “was to work directly with the children to help them understand the importance of reading, challenge each child to read at least 20 minutes each night, and donate books as well as other resources to help bolster the school’s reading program.”  As a result of the collaborative effort between the men of Sigma Mu Mu Chapter and the dedicated teachers and staff at Sugarland, the students’ reading test scores have increased exponentially to a point where Sugarland’s test scores are now among the best in Loudoun County.

Sigma Mu Mu Chapter believes it shares responsibility for our children’s literacy and learning, so our continued collaboration with parents and teachers is going to be key to help children of Loudoun County become stronger readers.