Kids (and their parents and friends) who love to run and love to read can combine both interests by signing up to support Branford Education Foundation's (BEF) Branford Reads program as their cause in this year's Branford Road Race, coming June 17. One lucky supporter will win a new Kindle donated by BEF.

BEF is teaming up once again with Branford Public Schools (BPS) to encourage summer reading and this year's new road race sponsorship element adds "another layer" to that effort, said Branford Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mary Peraro, Ed.D.

Runners can sign up to support the cause online at the Road Race website

(http://branfordroadrace.net) and those who can't make the run but love the idea can also go online to make a general donation. All money raised will go toward helping to buy books for summer reading for Branford's younger students. BPS promotes required summer reading across all grades.

Thanks to donations to BEF, "every kindergartener through 3rd-grader goes home with one non-fiction book and our goal is to get a book to every 4th grader as well," said Peraro, adding, "Our goal is to bring reading to the forefront."

In addition, to help build awareness about the BPS/BEF Branford Reads effort, program volunteers will be handing out more than 200 free books (donated by Read to Grow) from tables set up in front of the school central offices at 1111 Main Street (at the corner of Montowese and Main street) on June 16 and 17.

BEF is a non-profit school-community partnership dedicated to funding innovate programs fostering excellence in education. BEF president Bob Babcock said programs in support of reading have been increasing in visibility in recent years, with "putting the fun in reading" as a central theme.

"We started with the pennants all over town last year, which was a fun thing, then [Glow Night] at the Blackstone, which was a fun thing, and now the Road Race and on July 25 we'll be holding Branford Reads on the Town Green," said Babcock. "It will be a real family read, with parents and kids as readers and we'll also have storytellers. We want them to enjoy reading. It's not a task, it's an enjoyment."

Readers of all ages and their families and friends are encouraged to bring a book, spread a blanket on the Green on

July 25, and be a part of the Branford Reads event. Many of the younger set may even be bringing along that non-fiction book supplied by funds raised from runners who chose BEF's Branford Reads as their Road Race donation selection.

"We really want to integrate the community and help everyone to understand the importance of reading," said Peraro. "As long as kids are reading during the summer, they will not lose any ground."

To sign up for the Branford Road Race and to select BEF Branford Reads as a donation beneficiary, go to http://branfordroadrace.net, click on "Support a Cause," and select Branford Education Foundation. The 32nd Branford Road Race is Sunday, June 17, with a five-mile road race starting at 10:15 a.m. from the Town Green and a one-mile fun run for kids and adults beginning at

9:30 a.m. (new time this year).