Reading is Fundamental (RIF) hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday at the Selma Convention Center.

Kids and teenagers were given books to read over the Christmas break. The youth also took photos with Santa Claus and were treated to excerpts from the Lion King cast of R. B. Hudson STEAM Academy. Christmas songs were song during the festive two-hour program.

The Zeta Eta Omega Chapter/Women and Youth Service Center of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in collaboration with the Dallas County Commissioners, The Mayor and the Selma City Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Pi Lambda Chapter, members of AmeriCorps, Culturama and the Alpha Academy, ran the program.

“Policemen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, they all had to learn how to read,” RIF Coordinator Nancy Sewell said. “The more you read, the more you want to read.”

Labarron Mack, Vice President of the Alpha Phi Alpha’s Delta Pi Lambda Chapter, praised Sewell and the Zeta Eta Omega Chapter for making the RIF successful.

“There isn’t anything I’d rather do on a Saturday morning than read with young people,” Mack said.

Alpha Phi Alpha member Donovan McGuire also stressed the importance of RIF.

“RIF is a foundation that exposes our kids to read,” McGuire said. “Reading helps us in every profession of our lives.”

The AKA sorority have provided RIF in the Queen City since 1979, holding three RIF Fun days over the summer.