Music Compound is committed to educating all year long, including when school is out for the summer. In addition to hosting an in-person summer camp, Music Compound launches the Rock Your Summer Reading initiative each year on June 1. for the fifth year, Music Compound encouraged kids to read over the summer by partnering with area businesses to provide special treats, one-of-a-kind experiences, and cool items as prizes; area youths enjoyed the opportunity to receive prizes for every five books they read.
The program ran through August 31. All participants who read 50 books or more were eligible to be entered into the grand prize drawing for a party for up to 20 people – with highlights including a photobooth by SRQ PhotoBooth and bounce house donated by Let’s Jump Rentals – at Music Compound’s “Studio 32.” The grand prize winner, Caden Hamvas, was drawn and announced on September 6.
Cayden, who is 14, lives in Manatee County and is in eighth grade. His favorite subject in school is reading. He also plays piano and guitar, and plays flag football.
“This initiative continues to engage scores of children, encouraging them to experience the joy of reading and discovery. This year, 86 children participated – logging 3,129 total books – and 68 children qualified for the grand prize drawing by reading at least 50 books,” said Music Compound general studio manager Alyssa Martin. “We are grateful to our business partners, who have been so generous in providing prizes to excite and inspire our young readers – this program simply wouldn’t be possible without their support.”
This year’s business partners were: The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, PDQ, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Chick Fil-A, The Fish Hole, Capo Kids, Vampire Penguin, Sun Outdoors, Big Cat Habitat, and DEFY.
While the children enjoy the reading and the prizes, parents also enjoy knowing that their kids are benefiting from the activity as well.
“The prizes offered through this reading program are exceptional and really motivated Caden and my other children to read a lot over the summer,” said proud mom Krista, who notes it was the family’s second year participating in Rock Your Summer Reading. “I really love how this program motivates kids to read so much.”
Hamvas said that Caden’s favorite book this summer was “Raising Dragons,” from the series “Dragons in our Midst.” Cayden’s siblings Aylah (11), Zack (9), and Keely (8) also rocked their summer reading through the Music Compound program this year.
For additional information about Rock Your Summer Reading, visit MusicCompound.com/read.
