Press Releases

Fairfield Kiwanis Club Runs Third Annual Book Drive to Benefit Read to Grow

8/1/2009

Steve Foldy stood knee-deep in boxes, bins and bags of 6,000 books he and his fellow Kiwanis Club of Fairfield members collected during their recent town-wide book drive for Read to Grow, a statewide organization that works to build early literacy. The Kiwanis Club has run a book drive for Read to Grow three consecutive years, and has collected more than 20,000 new and gently used books for the nonprofit.  Foldy coordinated the drive and hauled many of the books himself as he traveled to the town’s schools and libraries where residents were able to deposit the books, 26 sites in all. 

“Our members are committed to changing the world one child and one community at a time,” said Bob Sussman, Kiwanis member. “Read to Grow’s commitment to improving children’s literacy earned our overwhelming endorsement because children right here in our community benefit from their efforts,” he continued. “Success in life is so very dependent upon a child’s literacy. There are so many children in Connecticut who do not have books of their own and that is why we continue to partner with Read to Grow.”

The books will be distributed to children in need through Read to Grow’s Books for Kids program.  “I was once again thrilled with the Kiwanis donation and generosity of the Fairfield community and especially grateful this year,” said Linda Sylvester, the program coordinator.  “Over a recent six-month period, the requests for books from parents have doubled from the same time period last year,” explained Sylvester. “This donation couldn’t have come at a better time because the need is so great and our supply of books is low,” she said.

The Books for Kids program is supported entirely by donations of new and gently used books, and depends on collections run by schools, community groups and businesses.

Another Read to Grow program, Books for Babies, provides a new children’s book to every newborn in eight partner birthing hospitals, including both hospitals in Bridgeport, and educates parents, as their child’s first teacher, about the importance of reading to their baby right from birth in helping to build early literacy.  Books for Babies currently reaches 50 percent of the 42,000 babies born annually in Connecticut.

Last year, Read to Grow distributed more than 100,000 books to Connecticut children from birth through middle-school age, both directly to families and through partnerships with schools and community organizations. 

6/22/2009
Book Drive Benefit for RTG at R.J. Julia
 previous

2/12/2010
Opening Doors in Fairfield County
next 

 Top      Printer Friendly