Claire S Day History

Claire’s Day History

Claire Lynsey Rubini was a typical ten year old little girl. She loved to sing and dance, play softball, get together with friends, enjoy time with her family, including her mom, dad and younger sister and brother. Most of all, Claire loved to tell stories and read. She often tried using reading a book as an excuse to get out of chores, and would beg to finish a chapter before coming to the dinner table.

Claire died suddenly of a heart condition while attending camp. Her family and friends remembered her in joyous ways, laughing about her sense of humor and sudden temper, singing her favorite songs, and wishing to have had more time with this fun loving child.

Her parents, Brad and Julie Rubini, felt compelled to create some form of tribute in her honor and memory. Six months after Claire’s death, while on a flight to witness her oldest niece’s wedding, Julie read an article in an in-flight issue of Time Magazine about the Texas Book Festival and honorary chair person, former First Lady Laura Bush. Impressed by the festival’s mission to feature Texas born authors and illustrators, or those that had written about the state, Julie determined that their tribute to Claire would be a similar event. By divine intervention, or perhaps a little nudge from an angel up above, the concept of Claire’s Day (A Celebration of Life, Authors, Illustrators and Reading Excellence) was born.

Julie reached out to friends and former co-workers from the Toledo Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in the planning and preparation for the one day free family book festival. The original committee included individuals with event planning, marketing, financial management, administrative and teaching experiences, and began meeting in March 2001 to plan the first of what they hoped would be an annual event. Claire’s Day Inc. was formed as a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization that year.

Over 20 children’s book authors and illustrators from throughout the tri-state area (Ohio, Michigan and Indiana) participated in the first Claire’s Day on Saturday, May 18, 2002. The halls and grounds of the Maumee, Ohio branch library were filled with books being read, tales being spun by storytellers, local performers providing musical entertainment, and children engaging in book related hands-on activities. The C.A.R.E. Awards were a special highlight of the free, family book festival. The Awards (Claire’s Awards for Reading Excellence) were given to children nominated by their teachers as being the most improved student in their reading skills at their school. Approximately 25 young readers were recognized for their efforts during the event, and given a special certificate as well as a book written or illustrated by participating authors or illustrators. Eight major sponsors, along with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library System, helped provide underwriting to assist in the efforts to stage this free community event.

The event was a resounding success, so much so that the Claire’s Day Inc. committee determined that a grant of $2500 would be extended to the Library Legacy Foundation, to be used to purchase books written and or illustrated by the next year’s participating authors and illustrators so that families and teachers could have the books available to enjoy year round. This grant has been awarded annually. In 2004 the Claire’s Day Inc. organization established Claire’s Night, a fun reception for grownups with the participating writers and artists, held the evening prior to Claire’s Day at the whimsical children’s section of Main Library in downtown Toledo.

In addition, the concept of the School Visit program was created, creating an opportunity for area schools to host the authors and illustrators participating in Claire’s Day the day(s) prior to the event. Claire’s Day Inc., in agreement with the authors and illustrators, promotes the paid school visit(s) and covers additional expenses. The schools pay only the author’s honorarium. And in exchange, the authors and illustrators provide their time and talents to Claire’s Night and Claire’s Day.

Continuing our success, 2007 marked the first year that Claire’s Day Inc. provided grants in the form of either $250 or books valued at $350 to the schools participating in the school visit program.

An official mission statement was created by the organization, reflecting the growth of the organization and the series of literary events the organization promotes.

The mission of Claire’s Day Inc. is to honor Claire Lynsey Rubini by inspiring children and families of all ages to be lifelong readers through exposure to a variety of literary opportunities and experiences.

2009 brought the introduction of the Teen Café, in recognition that our original Claire’s Day attendees still enjoy the day, but desire authors and activities that appeal to their ages.

As we celebrate our ninth annual event on May 15, 2010, we look forward to hosting 11 authors and illustrators from throughout Ohio and Michigan, and presenting over 250 children with a C.A.R.E. Award.

Our authors and illustrators will visit with nearly 10,000 children in 24 area schools. The committee includes 28 wonderful individuals who work tirelessly from September through May to bring this joyous event to children and families throughout the greater Toledo area. Over 100 volunteers lend their time and talents to the day’s festivities. Seventeen major sponsors provide us with financial and in-kind support to continue to present Claire’s Day events to the community.

Claire’s Day is no longer just a Day, but then again, it never was just a day to begin with.

In Honor and Memory of Claire Lynsey Rubini, who danced in this world from May 24, 1990 to July 6, 2000