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California Kids Get Free Books from RIF and Best Buy
RIF Partners with Best Buy Promoting Children's Literacy in California
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) and Best Buy Co., Inc. have targeted several California cities this year to promote literacy for families and children.
San Diego Unified School District; Pasadena Area RIF Corp.; Sonoma County Office of Education, Santa Rosa; Santa Ana Unified School District; San Francisco Unified School District; and the National City Public Library have been selected to host Best Buy-sponsored RIF reading events, free book distributions, and literacy training for parents and volunteers. The California initiative marks the second year of Best Buy's three-year, $300,000 commitment to RIF programs.
The National City Public Library's Literacy Carnival hosted a Best Buy-RIF free book distribution Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the National City Public Library's. Children from preschool through high school received two free books each. In addition, the event included craft booths with activities for kids of all ages, free face painting, a story tent where readers, snack booths, and on-stage performances by local talent.
Last year, RIF and Best Buy provided more than 35,700 books to nearly 3,000 children in 140 local RIF sites in Baltimore and Annapolis, Md; Cambridge and Danvers, Mass.; Nashua and Durham, N.H.; Arlington, Falls Church, Reston, and Springfield, Va.; and Washington, D.C.
Best Buy's involvement is part of the company's multiyear commitment to America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, a national volunteer organization chaired by retired Gen.Colin Powell). The commitment pairs Best Buy with RIF and other nonprofit organizations on projects that help children develop the skills needed to become successful adults.
"We look forward to another rewarding year of working with RIF to help instill in children a lifelong love for reading," said Brad Anderson, Best Buy president and chief operating officer. "This is just one example of Best Buy's mission to reach out and help children in the communities we serve."
"I'm so pleased that two commitment-makers to America's Promise, RIF, and Best Buy, are combining their strengths to promote children's literacy," said RIF Chairman Lynda Johnson Robb, who also is co-chair of America's Promise. "This partnership exemplifies the very best of corporate giving."
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.6 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.rif.org.
Discover the Joy!
For more information, contact:
Layla Wright-Contreras,
Media Relations Manager
202-536-3528
lwright@rif.org
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