Philadelphia, June 27, 2010- Mayor Michael A. Nutter is proud to announce Fist Book’s donation of 170,000 books to the city of Philadelphia. First Book is a non-profit organization that provides new books to children in an effort to increase literacy by reducing one of the biggest barriers – access to books. The first donation of 400 books will be distributed tonight at the kick-off event for Philadelphia’s summer service challenge Let’s Read. Let’s Move. Philadelphia. For more information on how to receive donated books, interested schools and groups should visit www.firstbook.org/register. This gift was made possible through a generous contribution from Disney Publishing Worldwide, First Book National Advisory Council member Heather Steinmiller, and the supporters of the 2009 First Book gala, the Book Bash.
“Access to books is a key step to increasing literacy in the city of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter. “I am so pleased that First Book has made this incredibly generous gift to Philadelphia. These books will have a positive impact on young people for the rest of their lives.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the City and School District of Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter’s vision and leadership for the community have truly opened the doors for First Book and our partners to provide these books – and millions more in the future – to kids who need them most,” said Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book.
First Book has distributed more than 65 million free and low-cost books in thousands of communities in the United States and Canada. In 2009 First Book Philly provided 21,568 books to 3,334 kids in the Greater Philadelphia area. The distribution of this summer’s record number of donated books is being coordinated by First Book through an instrumental partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.
First Book Philly is a completely volunteer organization; there are no salaries and no overhead, so every dollar contributed in a restricted gift can go directly to the purchase of books. To find out more or donate go to www.firstbook.org/firstbookphilly.
