-TD provides $5 million to support TD Summer Reading Club for three years-
TORONTO, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The school year may be nearing an end, but children are getting ready to embark on a reading experience for the summer thanks to an exciting national program designed to inspire imaginations and a love of reading. Together with TD Bank Group, the Ottawa Public Library hosted the launch of the 2014 TD Summer Reading Club with the help of more than 25 grade-school students and announced a $5 million donation from TD in support of renewing the program for the next three years.
"Instilling the joy of reading in children is one of life's great pleasures - it helps create lasting childhood memories and promotes crucial literacy skills," said Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "Investing in reading and literacy programs for children and young adults is one of the best ways we can help make a difference in our communities. Through the TD Summer Reading Club program, we're proud to foster learning in kids across the country and inspire them to turn the page of a new adventure."
The TD Summer Reading Club is a free and inclusive bilingual program of Canadian public libraries that creates an opportunity for children and their families to make reading a fun part of their summer. Almost 2,000 local public libraries across Canada will offer family friendly programs aimed at keeping children reading. This year's theme is "Eureka!"
"The Ottawa Public Library is thrilled to once again participate in the TD Summer Reading Club and help kick off this year's program," says Danielle McDonald, CEO, Ottawa Public Library. "From 2014-2017, we are looking forward to engaging children and youth in the excitement of finding a good book. Reading stimulates your child's vocabulary and imagination and helps prevent learning loss that can occur when children are out of school for the summer."
While summer is a time for children to take a break and have fun, it's also important that they continue to exercise their brains during their time off to maintain the hard work they put in during the school year. Studies estimate that summer loss for all students equals about one month on a grade-level equivalent scale*. The TD Summer Reading Club offers a variety of activities that not only help children develop a passion for reading, but help to reduce the learning loss that can occur when children do not engage in any learning activities over the summer break.
"We're excited about all the fun and fantastic programs and activities we've developed this year based on the "Eureka" theme," said Lisa Heggum, Toronto Public Library's Child and Youth Advocate, and the Club's Program Manager. "We expect more than 700,000 children to join the Club across Canada this summer and we are excited to see all the ways they will invent, create, tinker, innovate, and of course, read."
Visiting the library and finding incredible books to read is also a great way for children to beat the heat and escape into their imaginations. The TD Summer Reading Club aims to connect families with books, build confidence, inspire a sense of adventure and wonder, nurture children's creativity, and celebrate their accomplishments through free incentives and fun programs and activities, such as:
"You don't have to be able to see words on a page to enjoy the benefits of a good book - listening to a story or experiencing it through braille is just as rewarding," says John Rafferty, President and CEO, CNIB. "We are thrilled to once again work with dedicated partners like the Toronto Public Library, Library and Archives Canada, and TD to help make the joy of reading easily accessible for children with print disabilities."
What's happening this summer as part of the TD Summer Reading Club?
One of this year's new and exciting family fun activities is StoryMobs, a literary phenomenon where books are brought to life using costumes, music and simple choreography in a flash mob style performance. Across six provinces, 13 local branches will be running a story mob. Programs such as this help engage the entire family in building positive reading experiences which is what the Club is all about.
"Many fond childhood memories stem from escaping into a good book," says Hervé Déry, Acting Librarian and Archivist of Canada. "Engaging in reading and writing activities at a young age can set the stage for a lifetime of creativity, laughter and overall enjoyment. We're so pleased to help families continue the tradition of escaping into a world filled with imagination, creativity and excitement this summer through the TD Summer Reading Club. Eureka!"
For more information about the 2014 TD Summer Reading Club, as well as suggested reading lists and activities, please visit www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca and www.tdreads.com
TD Community Giving
TD Bank Group invests in communities in order to effect positive change in the places where it operates and where its clients and employees live and work. In 2013, TD donated over $74.7 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, TD focuses on education and financial literacy, creating opportunities for young people and the environment. For further information, please visit www.td.com/corporate-responsibility.
* http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/009003/f2/009003-06-040-e.pdf
Image with caption: "On June 3, 2014, students from Hopewell Avenue Public School joined Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group and illustrator John Martz at the Ottawa Public Library for the official launch of the 2014 TD Summer Reading Club. (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140604_C8423_PHOTO_EN_41125.jpg
SOURCE: TD Bank Group
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About TD Bank Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27.5 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of...
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