Michelle Staubach Grimes, local children’s book author and daughter of football legend Roger Staubach, shared her book Where is Pidge? with local elementary students, in an effort to ‘Change a Child’s Story.’  Change a Child’s Story is a digital fundraising campaign recently launched by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to get books into the hands of North Texas children who need them.  As a ‘Change a Child’s Story’ partner, Michelle joined students at St. Mary of Carmel School in West Dallas to instill a love of reading in their hearts and minds.  She was accompanied by Change a Child's Story campaign mascots Ellie the Elephant and Ollie the Owl as she read aloud to a group of first through third-graders, generating awareness about the critical role books play in a child’s education.  Joined by her Bernese Mountain Dog and book character “Maverick,” Grimes gave copies of her book Where is Pidge? to all the students participating. 

‘Change a Child’s Story’ is an eight-week fundraising effort culminating with a United Way-themed Dallas Mavericks game night on March 7th.  Presented by Central Market/HEB, the campaign invites people to make a $5 donation, pledge to read to a child for 20 minutes a day, and share the campaign across social media networks.  Salesforce.org will donate $1 for every like, follow or share.

With a 38% child poverty rate in Dallas, thousands of local children don’t own one single book.  For a child, reading is critical to the foundation of all future learning.  With the help of the North Texas community, United Way is committed to preparing all students for success in school, giving every child a happily ever after.  Visit www.unitedwaydallas.org to ‘Change a Child’s Story.’