Anne Koons receives gift from the students of the Lanning Square Reading Program.
Sixteen years ago, Anne Koons took her son to the Cooper Learning Center located in Voorhees, N.J., for some academic help. Her positive experience with the center stayed with her and left a lasting impression.
“I was truly impressed with the different programs that Dr. Richard Selznick had started at the Cooper Learning Center to help children with difficulties they were having in school,” said Koons.
Koons has been a successful real estate agent in South Jersey for more than 26-years and has shared her son’s success with the program. “Over the years I have sent countless families there for help with their children and have received numerous calls thanking me for recommending the institute to them.”
Several years ago Dr. Selznick approached her about sponsoring a summer program for children attending the Lanning Square Elementary School in Camden. Dr. Selznick , who has spent his life’s work developing programs that teach fundamentals in learning to school aged children and counseling children to help them achieve success, saw that Camden children were in need of this type of intervention. He felt if they didn’t receive additional education over the summer, some might struggle and be unprepared for the following school year.
“I was glad to do this, especially since the parents of these children were to be involved in the program which is so important for this type of program to succeed,” said Koons. “This is an incredible opportunity for the children who go to the Lanning Square School to better their lives through education which is something no one can ever take away from you.”
“If I can give the gift of learning to these young children I feel like I have accomplished something for the community. My parents Bernard and Shirlee Brown have always taught us from a young age that as we were successful in our life and work we had to remember to give back to our communities; and help provide incredible opportunities for area residents’ to better their lives through education.
Koons visits the children in the Camden summer reading program each year to watch their success. She has been the primary sponsor of the Summer Reading Program along with the Cooper Foundation.
“It has been both a privilege and honor to participate in this program over the years.”