The Charlie Classics

The Charlie Classics Reading Program was established by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason to honor her grandfather Charles T. Bloodworth. Its mission is to encourage junior and senior high students to read 100 literary masterpieces by the time they graduate. Students choose works of literature from a list compiled under the direction of Bloodworth Thomason in consultation with English teachers and librarians from Poplar Bluff Public Schools.

After reading each classic, students discuss the book with a trained volunteer adult mentor. This student/adult interaction promotes positive relationships between generations. In addition to the lasting reward of knowledge, Poplar Bluff students receive gifts based on the number of books read and for their continued participation in the Charlie Classics Reading Program. Furthermore, the Foundation annually awards scholarships.

Some Changes in Operational Procedures

Several years ago, the Charlie Classics Reading program was split off into a separate organization and named after one of Linda Bloodworth Thomason’s popular television series, Designing Women. ThePoplar Bluff Charlie Classics program is administered by the Designing Women Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit charity.  To contact The Designing Women Foundation for information on the Classics Program, please email (designingwomenfoundation@gmail.com).  Or you can call the Claudia Foundation at (573) 686-3040 and they will put the Designing Women Foundation in touch with you.

The Claudia Foundation now will take the Reading Program to other towns and states. We are in preliminary talks with a nationally known corporation to help us launch this highly successful and motivating program.