A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
December 14, 1999

Contact:
John Emekli
(202) 401-4389

10,000 BOOKS GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. CHILDREN

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced that 10,000 Washington, D.C. children in subsidized childcare will receive a gift book for the holidays. The books are donated by children's publisher Golden Books and will be delivered by First Book and Gifts In Kind International. All three partners are members of the President's Coalition for America Reads.

At a holiday party for area children, Lynda Johnson Robb, chairman of Reading is Fundamental, joined Riley in reading a storybook to more than 100 Washington, D.C. children from Cleveland and Amidon Elementary schools. Gift books were given to each child from Golden Books and Scholastic. Riley was joined by costumed book characters Ms. Frizzle, Pat the Bunny, The Poky Little Puppy, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Riley urged all families to promote literacy by giving and reading children's books this holiday season. "Giving books to children, and taking time to read aloud, is very beneficial to children, including babies," Riley said. "Research shows that when books are available in the home and when parents read often with children, the children do better in school."

A recent study by California State University found that 61% of low-income families don't have a single book suitable for children in their homes. Another study found that parents were four times more likely to read aloud to their children when given free books and encouragement.

Riley also praised members of the President's Coalition for America Reads for delivering millions of children's books nationwide this season.

• The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is distributing 2 million books, in partnership with Scholastic, to needy children. Recipients include North Carolina children who lost their homes -- and books -- in the recent hurricane disasters.
• Reading Is Fundamental is collecting and distributing children's books through partnerships with Kiwanis International and Boys and Girls Clubs in communities across the nation.
• The nonprofit group First Book has delivered tens of thousands of books to Washington, D.C. children through the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, and is raising funds for books through a holiday electronic greeting card program at barnesandnoble.com.
• Gifts In Kind International is distributing 250,000 books, donated by Golden Books, to Girl Scouts of the USA, the YMCA, Head Start centers and others this season.

The President's Coalition for the America Reads Challenge consists of hundreds of businesses, schools, religious organizations, and non-profit organizations committed to ensuring that every child is a good reader by the end of third grade. Members of the coalition commit time and resources to building community coalitions for literacy. They support existing literacy programs and develop new ones, recruit learning partners to read with or tutor young children, organize book drives, donate resources and more.

For more information call 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit www.ed.gov/americareads/.

Editor's Note: Event photos are available upon request.

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