Indigo Books & Music hosts first-annual Adopt-a-School Fundraising Drive to
benefit over 100 Canadian schools

    
    - Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores raise funds for school libraries from
    coast-to-coast -
    

TORONTO , Oct. 21 /CNW/ - In association with the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, Indigo Books & Music has launched a two-week fundraising initiative to help transform the libraries at 150 elementary schools across Canada . The first-annual Indigo Adopt-a-School Fundraising Drive has the goal of raising $10 per student at each partner school through donations received until October 24th at over 200 Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores across the country. Through the fundraising program, these schools will have the opportunity to refresh their libraries with new books and learning materials to encourage student literacy.

"Canadian booklovers now have the opportunity to support early literacy in their communities and help put new books into the hands of children through this fundraising drive," says Jennifer Gay , Director, Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. "Giving students an opportunity to engage in a love of reading at a young age is extremely valuable and The Foundation is grateful for the passionate support of Indigo staff and customers."

A total of 150 schools across Canada from Abbotsford, British Columbia to St. John's , Newfoundland will benefit from the Indigo Adopt-a-School Fundraising drive. Visit your local Indigo, Chapters or Coles location to find out more about the Indigo Adopt-a-School program.

The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation was established in 2004 to address Canada's literacy crisis and help give underfunded Canadian schools access to new books and education resources. To date, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has provided $7.5 million to more than 70 schools nationally. In 2007, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation released a documentary entitled, Writing on the Wall, about the state of Canadian literacy. The documentary revealed shocking statistics, including that 42 per cent of adults are functionally illiterate and that in 2001 teachers spent $143 million of their own money to buy books and learning materials for their students. Just a 1 per cent increase in literacy will add $18.4 billion to our Canadian economy.

For more information about the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, visit www.loveofreading.org.

For further information: about the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, and the Indigo Adopt-a-School Fundraising Drive please contact: Natalie Little, MS&L, [phone], [email protected]; Samantha Shecter, MS&L, [phone], [email protected]