Tennessee Governor and First Lady Haslam host Sixth Annual Easter Egg Roll at the Tennessee Residence

Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, Fannie Battle Day Home Students Participate in Annual Easter Event

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today welcomed more than 65 children from Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee and Fannie Battle Day Home to the Tennessee Residence Great Lawn for the 6th annual Tennessee Residence Easter Egg Roll.

Keeping tradition alive, the day’s activities included a live performance from children’s musician Steve Lee, face painting, a bunny hop bounce house, and, of course, Easter egg rolling.

“Bill and I truly enjoy hosting children at the Tennessee Residence, and the Easter Egg Roll has become a special tradition,” Mrs. Haslam said. “We want this to be a memorable experience for them to celebrate the Easter holiday and take away fun memories of their state’s executive residence.”

In addition to the Easter fun, Governor and First Lady Haslam read What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss in support of Mrs. Haslam’s early literacy initiative. The First Lady’s initiative promotes the importance of families reading together at least 20 minutes each day to prepare children for success in school and in life.

Last month, Governor and First Lady Haslam joined the Department of Education in launching a statewide literacy campaign Read to be Ready: Building Thinkers in Tennessee. The campaign has a goal to increase the current 43 percent of third  graders who are reading proficiently in Tennessee to 75 percent by 2025.

Children left today’s Easter Egg Roll with new books to read at home in addition to souvenir Easter eggs signed by the governor and first lady.

“We want families to understand how important early literacy can be for success, and that it is never too early to begin reading with a child,” Mrs. Haslam said. “Children need to have many, many books read to them beginning at birth, and they need to know at least 10,000 words to enter school as ready learners.”

For more information about the Tennessee Residence or the First Lady’s early literacy initiative, visit www.tn.gov/firstlady