Collaboration to provide 60,000 new books and resources to children in need across the United States and Canada
WASHINGTON, DC, June 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books to children in need, and Domtar, the Sustainable Paper Company, announced the expansion of their partnership for literacy. The next phase of collaboration will help bring 60,000 brand-new, high-quality books to kids from low-income families across North America.
The Powerful Pages campaign will include "library makeover" grants to 14 schools and programs in U.S. towns that are home to Domtar mills and to eight similar organizations in Domtar host communities and area First Nation communities in Canada. These grants will give educators the funds to purchase an estimated 600 brand-new books through the First Book Marketplace, a website available exclusively to First Book programs.
"Domtar's commitment to kids in need in their communities is exemplary," said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. "We learned how dedicated they were when we worked together last year, and we're thrilled to expand our partnership to reach so many more children with the books and resources they need."
"Investing in the economic and social development of our host communities, and literacy efforts in particular, is a cornerstone of our sustainable business commitment at Domtar," noted Paige Goff, Domtar's Vice-President of Sustainability and Business Communications. "We are honored to be able to support First Book's laudable efforts to get new books in the hands of young readers who otherwise would be going without."
In addition to the "library makeover" grants, Domtar is funding one hundred smaller grants as an incentive for local schools and programs in communities that are home to Domtar employees to sign up with First Book. These grants will give the new members of First Book's network the funds to select around 125 new books from the First Book Marketplace for their students. The campaign also includes support for a national distribution of new books. Domtar will underwrite the shipping costs for 45,000 donated books that will go to educators and program leaders serving kids in need across North America as part of First Book's ongoing National Book Bank program.
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About Domtar
Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers and adult incontinence products. The foundation of its business is a network of world class wood fiber converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulps. The majority of its pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice® and Domtar EarthChoice®. Domtar is also a leading marketer and producer of a complete line of incontinence care products marketed primarily under the Attends® brand name. Domtar owns and operates Ariva®, a network of strategically located paper and printing supplies distribution facilities. In 2012, Domtar had sales of US$5.5 billion from some 50 countries. The Company employs approximately 9,300 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.
About First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 100 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit us online or follow our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
Image with caption: "Two young happy readers. (CNW Group/Domtar Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9612_PHOTO_EN_28230.jpg
SOURCE: Domtar Corporation
Media Contacts
Paige Goff
Vice President - Sustainability and Business Communications
Domtar Corporation
803-802-8101
[email protected]
Brian Minter
Communications Director
First Book
[email protected]
202-639-0115
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