Scholastic Canada's Reading Club and Canadian students have provided more than 1.5 million books through the Classrooms Care Reading is Giving program Français
TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Scholastic Reading Club Canada's Classrooms Care program, which kicked off its 15th year this month, has donated 1.5-million English and French books to Canadian children, thanks to 75,000 classrooms who have participated since the program began.
In its inaugural year, 6,000 Kindergarten-Grade 8 classes took part in the challenge. Through the Classrooms Care literacy program, for each class that reads 100 books, Scholastic Reading Club Canada donates 100 books (up to a total donation of 100,000 new books per year) to communities in need.
In order to reach some of Canada's most remote and deserving areas, the donated books are distributed in the name of both Scholastic and participating classrooms through program partners such as Frontier College, United Way Regina, Save the Children, Conseil pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences des adultes du Nouveau-Brunswick, La Coalition francophone Le goût de lire, and Fondation pour l'alphabétisation.
"Scholastic Canada is committed to improving literacy and believes in the fundamental right of access to books. We've seen how empowering it is for a child to get their own book – sometimes it's their first book," according to Vicki Pasternak, Vice-President of Scholastic Reading Club Canada. "But Classrooms Care also has a second important element crucial to raising good global citizens – the experience of giving back. And we hear often from teachers and parents that participating children are incredibly proud of their accomplishment and of making a difference in someone else's life."
"Scholastic is a strong advocate for literacy in Canada, and has been an unwavering supporter of Frontier College and our Free Book Distribution Program for 15 years," says Stephen Faul, President, Frontier College. "Through its Classrooms Care program, Scholastic Canada has provided over 400,000 children's books to Frontier College. We distribute the books directly to participants in our Homework Clubs, Reading Circles, and Summer Literacy Camps, and indirectly via our community partners to thousands of children, youth and families living in low-income and isolated communities throughout the country. With the help of Scholastic, we are able to place books and other quality reading materials in the hands of those who would have otherwise been unable to afford or access them."
The Classrooms Care initiative is open to all classrooms Canada-wide through Scholastic Reading Club. Teachers of grades K-8 who order from Scholastic Reading Club in February automatically receive a free Classrooms Care participation kit.
"It's such a great way to teach compassion and empathy, and for kids to know that you can help make a difference, while at the same time, they get to enjoy reading," says Sherry Fleming, a teacher from Guelph, Ontario.
About Scholastic Canada: Scholastic Canada is the country's largest publisher and distributor of children's books in both official languages. The company is a leading provider of quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based educational resources. Scholastic also makes a great variety of books available to children through school-based book clubs and book fairs as well as retail and online stores, schools and libraries. Established in Canada in 1957, with a long history of service to schools and families, Scholastic Canada continues to carry out its commitment to "Open a World of Possible" for all children. Learn more at www.scholastic.ca. Scholastic Canada Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scholastic Inc., a publicly held company trading on NASDAQ under SCHL.
SOURCE Scholastic Canada
Denise Anderson, Scholastic Canada [email protected] 416-272-2620.
Share this article