CONTACT: Jill Rosenberg, Director of Communications at 708-480-BANK (2265) or jill@berniesbookbank.org
BERNIE'S BOOK BANK DISTRIBUTES 1 MILLIONTH BOOK
Non-Profit Organization reaches milestone in less than 3 years
Waukegan, IL, November 8, 2012 - On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, Bernie's Book Bank will distribute its 1 MILLIONth book at Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan, Illinois. The distribution is scheduled at 1:00 p.m., when every child in the school will receive a bag of six books from Bernie's Book Bank. A favorite Chicago Bears player will be on hand to help celebrate as well distinguished corporate sponsors and supporters.
Media is invited to join us for the distribution. Contact Jill Rosenberg, Director of Communications, Bernie's Book Bank, 708-480-BANK (2265) or jill@berniesbookbank.org.
"Reading is the single most important skill a child needs to learn," says Bernie's Book Bank Founder Brian Floriani, "but more than 60 percent of at-risk children have no age-appropriate books in their homes.* By pouring books into their homes, we can provide them with the basic tools that every child needs to succeed... books."
Since its founding in December 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has collected, processed and distributed 1 MILLION quality books to at-risk children in the Chicagoland area. Today, the organization serves more than 55,000 children ANNUALLY in communities from Zion the south side of Chicago.
Bernie's Book Bank collects quality new and gently used books through schools, businesses, publishers, distributors and its growing Book Drop Network; processes books into age-appropriate, distribution-ready collections; and creates distribution partnerships with schools and other organizations that serve large populations of at-risk children. Schools in which 50% or more of the children qualify for the free and reduced lunch program are eligible. Each child served receives at least two bags of books per year from Bernie's Book Bank until they complete 6th grade. The books are free and theirs to keep forever.
Bernie's Book Bank Mission: Connect Children Needing Books with Books Needing Children!
Bernie's Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing and redistribution of quality new and gently used children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school age children living throughout Chicagoland. The goal of Bernie's Book Bank is to be distributing 1 MILLION books per year by 2013. Bernie's Book Bank is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill. For more information about Bernie's Book Bank, visit www.berniesbookbank.org.
*(source: Reading Literacy in the United States, 1996).
