FALLBROOK – Essay contest winners have been announced for the 7th annual Fallbrook A Leer/Reading Family Literacy Day event scheduled for March 31, 9 to 11 a.m., at Maie Ellis auditorium. The theme selected for this year’s essays was The Legacy of Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘The Importance of Non-Violence and Community Service.’

The winners of the 2012 contest are: Jennifer Vizzuett, sixth grade, Live Oak Elementary School; Antonia Rojas, seventh grade, Potter Jr. High School; and Mirna Marcial, eighth grade, Potter Jr. High School.

Leticia Maldonado-Stamos, founder of the event, and Maria E. Gomez, co-chairperson, extended their congratulations to the winners and added "the community of Fallbrook is proud to recognize these outstanding students."

Sixth grade students from La Paloma, Fallbrook Street, William H. Frazier and Live Oak schools, students from Potter Junior High School and Fallbrook High School will be assisting at the event. Members of the community and some staff members from Fallbrook Union Elementary School District will volunteer their time to educate families in the value of education and community service at the event.

Organizers recognized  the Angel Society of Fallbrook for its contribution to the Fallbrook-A-Leer/ Family Reading Event, which provides books for children to take home afterward. At this year’s event, students will receive brand new books on Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King, Jr. Children will be given two or three more books from hundreds donated by individuals and organizations who believe in the power of reading.

Over 200 children are already registered for the event. Organizers said they encourage more parents and their children to continue to sign up. Parents should visit their child’s school office for that.

Parent workshops at the event will be presented by Gail Forseth, a literacy specialist from Temecula; Antonio Mora and Monica Nava of the San Diego Office Of Education; and Elsa Grijalva and Nancy Foster, the literacy team from La Paloma School.

A Story Circuit will be offered to children, which consists of four different stories read to groups of children by 35 inspirational volunteer guest readers

For more information on how to volunteer or donate to the 2012 Fallbrook A Leer/Reading

Family Literacy Day, contact Leticia Maldonado/Stamos at Live Oak School, (760) 731-4478.