Embracing Our Differences’ Reading Initiative Reaches 10,000 Students

November 22, 2024 | Sarasota

Embracing Our Differences’ annual “Bucket Fillers” reading initiative promotes respect and kindness by teaching children how to “fill buckets” through acts of love, appreciation, and compassion, using the nationally acclaimed “Bucket Fillers” book series by Carol McCloud. On November 19, this impactful initiative reached 10,000 students in 537 pre-kindergarten to third grade classrooms across 70 public, private, and charter elementary schools in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Of these, half of the classrooms hosted in-person volunteer readers, while the other half participated in EOD’s interactive “webisode read-along” events.

Since Carol McCloud published her first book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids,” in 2006, she has inspired millions of people of all ages to become daily “bucket fillers” through her books, seminars, and other publications. Her ten children’s books have sold over three million copies

worldwide and are used in schools across the globe to inspire classrooms built on kindness and respect for all students.

For the past six years, EOD has coordinated this annual Bucket Fillers reading initiative in partnership with Sarasota County Schools, the School District of Manatee County, and the Early Learning Coalitions of Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Patrick Arthur Jackson, EOD’s new vice president of learning and engagement, explains, “The ‘Bucket Fillers’ books introduce the idea of an invisible bucket to inspire positive behavior and foster kindness. Each story helps children understand the joy and rewards of showing appreciation, love, and compassion toward others.”

Jackson explains that, to bring this initiative to life, EOD coordinated hundreds of volunteers to read and also organized interactive “webisode read-along” events, featuring readers from the organization’s partner arts and cultural organizations. These read-along volunteers included: Justin Gomlak (director of education and community programs at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall); Ptah Garvin (graduate at FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training); Jim Weaver (education director and artistic associate director at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe); and Kelly Dunn (assistant director of education and community engagement at Venice Theatre).

Jackson adds that each participating classroom and student also received a gifted copy of the Bucket Fillers book selected for their grade, thanks to the support of Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Manatee Education Foundation, Cardinal Rule Press and Embracing Our Differences’ donors. This year’s participation numbers represent an increase of 1,000 students and 26 classrooms over last fall, with an additional 49 classrooms on the waiting list.

For 21 years, Embracing Our Differences has delighted viewers with its annual outdoor display of 50 billboard-sized works of art and accompanying quotes. This high-profile art exhibition draws on the passion and perception of artists, students, and writers, to create powerful statements of inclusion, kindness and respect. The scale and impact of this open-air art show has continued to grow, attracting more than 4.8 million visitors since its inception. EOD’s annual exhibition is the heart of a year-round program of activities using art as a catalyst to create awareness and promote diversity.

Embracing Our Differences’ next outdoor exhibition runs Jan. 19-April 13, 2025, in Bayfront Park, Sarasota; and March 1-March 31, 2025, in Poynter Park, St. Petersburg.

For more information about Embracing Our Differences, call 941-404-5710, or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.