TORONTO, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2016 Love of Reading Literacy Grant.i Twenty-five high-needs elementary schools across Canada will benefit from the Foundation's $1.5 million annual grant commitment. These grants offer deserving school libraries the means to break the cycle of dwindling bookshelves caused by inadequate funding.
Since its inception in 2004, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has donated more than $23 million to more than 2,600 schools, benefiting more than 750,000 Canadian children.
"We love to know that these grants are nurturing a passion for reading and are helping Canadian children become richly literate," said Heather Reisman, President, Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
Exposure to books at an early age sparks creativity and critical thinking. Without proper access, kids are less equipped to become lifelong readers.
Here are the shocking realities of today's literacy crisis in Canada:
The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation believes every child should have access to books so they can reach their full potential. As a result of this year's literacy grants, 8,200 students across the country will have funds to purchase more than 200,000 books over the next three years.
The 2016 Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Literacy Fund Grant Recipients (by province):
Indigo Love of Reading Foundation & First Book Grant Day Partnership
In addition to the 2016 Literacy Fund grants, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has once again partnered with First Book Canada, which provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. As part of this partnership, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation and First Book Canada will provide more than 1,500 new books to each of the 20 runner-up schools that applied for the Literacy Fund Grant, a donation of more than 30,000 books in total. This year books will be generously donated from Disney Worldwide Publishing, Marvel Press, Disney Press, Lucasfilm Press, and Hyperion Press.
Schools interested in applying for the 2017 Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Literacy Fund Grant can download an application at www.loveofreading.org.
To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.loveofreading.org.
About the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation
Indigo Books & Music Inc. founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation in 2004 to address the underfunding of public elementary school libraries. To date, the Foundation has committed over $23 million to more than 2,600 schools through its signature programs. This year, the Foundation is granting $1.5 million to 25 high-needs elementary schools so they can transform their libraries with the purchase of new books and educational resources. To date, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation's Literacy Fund has committed $18 million to more than 215 schools nationally. The Foundation's annual grassroots Adopt a School program unites employees, customers, schools and their communities to raise funds and put even more books into the hands of children. Over the past seven years, the program has raised over $3.7 million so 600,000 children have a book to call their own. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.loveofreading.org
About First Book Canada
First Book Canada provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. By making new, high quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book Canada is transforming the lives of children and elevating the quality of education in the country. Since 2009, First Book Canada distributed over 4,500,000 brand new books to children in need across Canada. All funds raised in Canada go to programs serving children from low-income families. For more information, or to register with First Book Canada, visit us at www.firstbookcanada.org and follow our latest news on Twitter and Facebook.
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| i Grant applications are reviewed through six rounds of judging. Grant recipient schools are selected based on their application's ability to demonstrate the school's commitment to literacy programs, as well as other factors including their socioeconomic status, library status and need, and future plans for the grant. |
| ii Source: Love of Reading literacy grant applications. |
| iii Source: Canadian Books in School Libraries: Raising the Profile. A Research Report for the Association of Canadian Publishers, October 2004. Page 11 |
| iv Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Department of Community Pediatrics. Literacy Promotion. Technical Assistance. |
| v Source: http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21696494-lifelong-learning |
SOURCE Indigo Love of Reading Foundation
Image with caption: "Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Announces $1.5 Million in New Grants to 25 High-Needs Schools across Canada (CNW Group/Indigo Love of Reading Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160511_C7351_PHOTO_EN_688637.jpg
For media requests please contact: Kate Gregory ([email protected]), Indigo Books & Music Inc., O: 416-364-4499 Ext. 6659; Marni Zaretsky ([email protected]), MSLGROUP Canada, O: 416-847-1300
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