10.01.2008 - 04:02pm ET

(CSRwire) BOSTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Pearson Foundation is preparing to set a new world record for the largest shared reading experience and raise funds for early education in low-income communities as part of Jumpstart's Read for the Record(R). This year, national college bookstores will also participate with more than 130 events taking place on college campuses across the country on October 2nd.

The college bookstore events will help create the world's largest shared reading experience as children, college students, faculty and adults prepare to read this year’s official Campaign book, Corduroy, written and illustrated by Don Freeman and published by Penguin Young Readers Group.

Nationwide, participating Follett, Nacscorp, MBS Textbook Exchange, B&N College, and independent college bookstores are selling the custom Campaign edition of Corduroy which includes introductory letters from Jumpstart's Honorary Spokesperson, LL Cool J, and NBC’s TODAY Show hosts Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira.

The Pearson Foundation, the Campaign's Sponsor and Founding Partner, is underwriting the publication of the book -- ensuring that 100% of the proceeds directly benefit Jumpstart's work with at-risk children. Plus, each book that is purchased online will be matched with a donation from the Pearson Foundation to support Jumpstart youth.

Jumpstart's Read for the Record Campaign includes thousands of events in major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and a national event at the Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The day will be kicked off with an early morning reading event on NBC’s TODAY Show with Lauer and celebrity guest stars including LL Cool J, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jesse McCartney.

"The success of Jumpstart, and the influence their participating college students have had on young children and on their families, has been phenomenal," said Gary Shapiro, senior vice president for Intellectual Properties of Follett Higher Education Group. "Getting these children reading early is critical to their future success. Highlighting this issue, as well as supporting the efforts of Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation, is why Follett Higher Education Group is proud to be participating in this event."

"The work that Jumpstart is doing with children in low-income areas not only builds reading and vocabulary skills, but also opens up a world of opportunity and imagination to these kids," said Joseph Burns, director of advertising and digital strategy MBS Textbook Exchange, Inc. "MBS Textbook Exchange has always held education and those that deliver it in the highest regard, which is why we are honored to be able to support Jumpstart's Read for the Record Campaign."

"We need to provide tools for at-risk children to help them achieve reading success as early as possible," said Bill Barke, CEO of the Pearson Arts and Sciences Group. "Jumpstart's Read for the Record is a perfect opportunity for Pearson to partner with Jumpstart and the college bookstore community to alert people across the country to a national crisis, and to suggest ways that they can take action to resolve the crisis."


ABOUT THE PEARSON FOUNDATION
The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson's commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. The Foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities.

In 2006, Pearson and its businesses The Financial Times Group, The Penguin Group, and Pearson Education became the Sponsor and Founding Partner of Jumpstart's Read for the Record, which to date has raised over $2.2 million for Jumpstart's work to help preschoolers from low-income communities with their language and literacy skills. For more information, go to www.pearsonfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE PEARSON FOUNDATION AND JUMPSTART
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Campaign is just one component of the Pearson Jumpstart partnership. Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation share a passion for education and inspiring people to reach their full potential. These shared goals and values led Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation to create the Pearson Teacher Fellowship in 2001. Each year, the Pearson Teacher Fellowship provides the opportunity for a select group of achievement-oriented college graduates to enter the early education field by becoming preschool teachers in Head Start and other early learning centers serving at-risk children. The Fellowship provides these talented individuals a stipend, intensive training, assistance earning teaching certification, and additional support and resources during the first two years of their teaching careers. In 2006, Pearson and its businesses The Financial Times Group, The Penguin Group, and Pearson Education became the Sponsor and Founding Partner of Jumpstart's Read for the Record, which to date has raised over $2.2 million for Jumpstart's work to help preschoolers from low-income communities with their language and literacy skills. For more information, go to www.pearsonfoundation.org.

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