CNN iReport

     It started with one woman's belief that helping kids learn to read would make a difference. A flight attendant flying for one of the major airline carriers on 9/11, LeeAnn Butler-Owens was prompted by the loss of friends and coworkers to examine her part in making the world a better place. By combining her interest in early childhood development with a love of music and the arts, Butler-Owens started by developing a children's musical audio book. Marketing soon turned to gifting as she realized how many children fell through the cracks at the most critical stage of reading development. She understood that while exploring her own creativity she must find a way to help young children do the same in an effort to enhance learning.   

     To that end Lullalee has strategically partnered with authors, educators and entertainers to develop programs that help underserved children facing learning challenges. Since 2004, her non-profit 501(c)(3) has provided Car-Ni-Fairs, Storytelling Projects and Book Grants to over 8,500 children and their families in California, Louisiana and Africa.

     Guided by the mantra "Find Your Special Gift Through Art, Music & Literacy" Lullalee develops services recognizing that children learn in different ways and that exposure to the arts helps explore and exploit those differences.  Demand has defined the need for her highly successful programs and Lullalee continues to develop exciting new approaches, inspiring children to embrace literacy.

     Car-Ni-Fair, a magical day highlighting the importance of literacy, celebrated its fourth year of entertaining, educating and promoting smiles to over 2000 patients of Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation as well as kids from neighboring inner city schools. Authors, magicians, clowns and puppeteers provide fun-filled entertainment while the aroma of cotton candy and popping corn seep into a carnival setting.

     The Skyline College Weekly Storytelling project aims to assist early readers and inspire long-term education goals. Alongside providing inspiration and books to children, this program helps train early childhood education students who in turn help improve the program in an academic setting.

     Beyond expanding local impact Lullalee seeks to extend beyond the Bay Area through documentation, making it easy for other colleges and early childhood development programs to incorporate best practices. This strategy also supports a goal to develop tele-education, distance learning & ed-u-tainment programs that bring 21^st century learning tools to disadvantaged children.

     Lullalee is currently developing fundraising efforts to continue its work with underserverd children and encourages donations of books, materials or funds. It is LeeAnn's firm belief that we are changing the world when we help kids learn to love reading.