Mayor Taveras, GTECH President and CEO Jaymin Patel Read to Kindergarteners at George J. West Elementary School

Power Lunch reading part of Providence Reads campaign.

Mayor Angel Taveras and GTECH President and CEO Jaymin Patel visited a kindergarten classroom at George J. West Elementary School this morning to read to students as part of the Mayor's Providence Reads campaign. Mayor Taveras read his children's book, "How to Do Well in School" during the lunchtime visit with students.

"The most important predictor of school success and high school graduation is grade level reading by the end of third grade," said Mayor Taveras. "I am pleased to partner with community leaders and businesses like GTECH to implement our nationally renowned All American City plan for grade level reading and to ensure that all Providence students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade."

The readings are part of a series of weekly GTECH volunteer visits to the kindergarten classroom through the Inspiring Minds Power Lunch Program, part of a larger Providence Reads partnership.

The Providence Reads initiative, launched last fall by Mayor Taveras, is a partnership with business and community organizations aimed at putting more children on a path toward grade-level reading before the end of third grade. GTECH serves as one of the initiative's major sponsors and has committed $10,000 to the Providence Reads campaign.

"Investing in education is one of the best business investments we can make," said Jaymin Patel, President and CEO of GTECH. "We are proud to serve as a lead sponsor of Providence Reads and volunteer our time to help ensure that our children receive the best education possible."