The Gift of Reading gives 30,775 books to underprivileged Quebec children

MONTREAL, April 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Literacy Foundation is pleased to announce that the 13th edition of The Gift of Reading was a great success: 30,775 underprivileged children aged 0-12 will be receiving a brand new book in May. Since 1999, under this program, more than 286,000 new children's books have been given out through Quebecers' generosity.

Year after year, The Gift of Reading has helped bring reading into the province's underprivileged homes. "Giving The Gift of Reading means passing on from childhood the love of reading," says program spokesperson, actress Marie Turgeon. "Through the public's generous giving, the goal of this 13th edition was reached, and 30,775 children will have the good fortune of growing up and dreaming with a new book in their hands. On behalf of all these children, I say a huge thank-you!"

30,775 books distributed across Quebec
The books collected last November and December in 150 bookstores, 100 or so libraries and various other collection sites have been sorted and inspected for distribution in the donors' regions. Hundreds of book distribution events will be held in May in 455 establishments across Quebec, among them:

  • 170 schools and 691 elementary classes (selected using the deprivation indicators established by the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports [MELS])
  • 90 daycare centres
  • 157 Famille grassroots organizations
  • 38 non-profit organizations

30,775 concrete steps to help keep children in school and prevent illiteracy
"For the third year in a row, more than 30,000 books are being distributed across Quebec," says Diane Mockle, the Literacy Foundation's interim CEO. "This represents more than 30,000 steps taken to help keep children in school and prevent illiteracy in the most underprivileged neighbourhoods. These encouraging results are proof positive of the public's growing commitment to our cause, and mean great things lie ahead for future editions."

Beyond conveying the joy of reading to children, The Gift of Reading also aims to reach parents with low reading proficiency so as to raise their awareness of the role they have to play in their children's learning. The Info-Alpha line (1-800-361-9142) can help them acquire the skills they need to fulfil this role.

30,775 thanks!
Each year, The Gift of Reading mobilizes hundreds of stakeholders from a variety of fields. Together, they make the program the success it is today. A big thank-you goes to them and our loyal partners: Hydro-Québec, the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports (MELS), Nationex, Salon du livre de Montréal, Bombardier Aerospace Employees Charity Fund-Montreal, National Bank, Raise-a-Reader, Association québécoise des enseignantes et enseignants du primaire (AQEP), Zoom Média, Métromédia Plus, Hebdos Québec, VOX, 98.5 FM, Pop Média, Métro newspaper, The Gazette, La Presse, Le Libraire and Le Téléjournal Grand Montréal.

Literacy Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Literacy Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that everyone—adults and children—has access to reading and writing. To help the Foundation, make a donation at fondationalphabetisation.org/en.

For further information:

Source:
Awareness Department
Literacy Foundation
fondationalphabetisation.org

Information:
Mary-Gaëlle Poyade, Communications advisor
514-289-1178, ext. 226
m-gpoyade@fondationalphabetisation.org