First Book Celebrates Lincoln Legacy Initiative to End Illiteracy
Grants from Wal-Mart and Motorola Seed Statewide Effort to Bring New Books to Children in Need
CHICAGO, -- First Book, a nonprofit providing new books to children in need, held a reading party to honor Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday at local Clara Barton Elementary School this morning, where sponsors Wal-Mart and Motorola announced grants to bring thousands of books to children in need in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Congressman Danny K. Davis, who chairs the Lincoln Legacy Initiative created to bring awareness of the fight to end illiteracy, attended and read books with the students.
Following special check presentations and remarks by Congressman Davis, community leaders read to the more than 65 first graders gathered in the school's auditorium. All students at Clara Barton will receive a brand new book to take home.
Sponsors Wal-Mart and Motorola were joined by RR Donnelley in support of The Lincoln Legacy Initiative, First Book's statewide literacy campaign to bring 200,000 books to Illinois children in need. Timed to coincide with the celebration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, an iconic figure in the history of American literacy, the initiative spotlights the importance of literacy and education as a foundation for informed citizenry and the democratic process.
Congressman Davis stated, "First Book is an extraordinary initiative, tackling illiteracy head on by empowering families and the community. By placing books directly into the hands of children at risk and challenging their schools, their parents and their fellow classmates to join them in reading, this program is initiating a 'reading chain reaction' which can only end with a generation of enthusiastic readers and learners."
The statistics on access to books are shocking. According to one study, while there is an average of 13 books for every child in middle income neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. First Book's system of large-scale book donations grants unprecedented access to programs serving children in low-income households, making book ownership a reality rather than a luxury.
"Allowing students of all backgrounds to have access to books fits perfectly with our goal to help people live better," said Rafael Colberg, Wal-Mart's market manager for the Chicagoland area. "Wal-Mart is proud to partner with First Book as they work to link families with a permanent resource for books, instilling in Chicago's youth a hunger for learning and a proud sense of accomplishment."
"The Motorola Foundation believes in the importance of making education accessible to all - regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic background - to awaken a passion for knowledge in today's youth," said Eileen Sweeney director, Motorola Foundation. "Motorola is honored to partner with First Book, an organization committed to furthering Lincoln's legacy of education and excellence."
"First Book is grateful for the tremendous commitment of partners like Wal-Mart, Motorola, and RR Donnelley, who join us to bring the power of new books to children from low-income families," said First Book President, Kyle Zimmer. "We know that access to books helps create readers for life, and we hope that each Illinois resident will join these partners to work together to end illiteracy across the state."
First Book has distributed over one million books to Illinois children since founded in 1992.
About First Book
First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 60 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit www.firstbook.org or call 866-393-1222.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About the Motorola Foundation
The Motorola Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola. With employees located around the globe, Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more information, on Motorola Corporate and Foundation giving, visit www.motorola.com/giving.
CHICAGO, -- First Book, a nonprofit providing new books to children in need, held a reading party to honor Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday at local Clara Barton Elementary School this morning, where sponsors Wal-Mart and Motorola announced grants to bring thousands of books to children in need in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Congressman Danny K. Davis, who chairs the Lincoln Legacy Initiative created to bring awareness of the fight to end illiteracy, attended and read books with the students.
Following special check presentations and remarks by Congressman Davis, community leaders read to the more than 65 first graders gathered in the school's auditorium. All students at Clara Barton will receive a brand new book to take home.
Sponsors Wal-Mart and Motorola were joined by RR Donnelley in support of The Lincoln Legacy Initiative, First Book's statewide literacy campaign to bring 200,000 books to Illinois children in need. Timed to coincide with the celebration of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, an iconic figure in the history of American literacy, the initiative spotlights the importance of literacy and education as a foundation for informed citizenry and the democratic process.
Congressman Davis stated, "First Book is an extraordinary initiative, tackling illiteracy head on by empowering families and the community. By placing books directly into the hands of children at risk and challenging their schools, their parents and their fellow classmates to join them in reading, this program is initiating a 'reading chain reaction' which can only end with a generation of enthusiastic readers and learners."
The statistics on access to books are shocking. According to one study, while there is an average of 13 books for every child in middle income neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. First Book's system of large-scale book donations grants unprecedented access to programs serving children in low-income households, making book ownership a reality rather than a luxury.
"Allowing students of all backgrounds to have access to books fits perfectly with our goal to help people live better," said Rafael Colberg, Wal-Mart's market manager for the Chicagoland area. "Wal-Mart is proud to partner with First Book as they work to link families with a permanent resource for books, instilling in Chicago's youth a hunger for learning and a proud sense of accomplishment."
"The Motorola Foundation believes in the importance of making education accessible to all - regardless of gender, race or socioeconomic background - to awaken a passion for knowledge in today's youth," said Eileen Sweeney director, Motorola Foundation. "Motorola is honored to partner with First Book, an organization committed to furthering Lincoln's legacy of education and excellence."
"First Book is grateful for the tremendous commitment of partners like Wal-Mart, Motorola, and RR Donnelley, who join us to bring the power of new books to children from low-income families," said First Book President, Kyle Zimmer. "We know that access to books helps create readers for life, and we hope that each Illinois resident will join these partners to work together to end illiteracy across the state."
First Book has distributed over one million books to Illinois children since founded in 1992.
About First Book
First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 60 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit www.firstbook.org or call 866-393-1222.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About the Motorola Foundation
The Motorola Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola. With employees located around the globe, Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more information, on Motorola Corporate and Foundation giving, visit www.motorola.com/giving.
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