Every kindergarten student in the Pittsburgh Public School system is getting two brand-new books of their own from the nonprofit social enterprise First Book, thanks to Baierl Automotive’s EducationAd advertising purchased through CBS EcoMedia. The financial support from Baierl is being matched by the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, a First Book national partner. Approximately 5,000 free books will be distributed to Pittsburgh’s public school kindergarten students by First Book to encourage reading and help them stay focused on learning.

To celebrate, First Book and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers held a special reading party today for the kindergarten students at Pittsburgh Morrow Pre-K-8 school hosted by Bob Baierl, Vice President of Baierl Automotive; Nina Esposito-Visgitas, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers; Jamie Kinzel-Nath, acting principal of Pittsburgh Morrow; and Dr. Linda Lane, superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The reading party featured brief remarks followed by a reading of books by volunteer readers, Bob and Kim Baierl and their children. In addition to supplying each kindergarten student with two new books, First Book’s goal is to connect every kindergarten teacher in the Pittsburgh public school system to an ongoing supply of new books and resources for their students.

“Being able to put new books into kids’ hands in time for summer break is critical, and we’re so grateful to Baierl Automotive for making it possible,” said Teresa Pipia, Vice-President of Strategic Alliances for First Book. “The loss of reading skills over the summer hits kids from low-income families especially hard; these books will make a real difference.”

“The Baierl organization has been involved in numerous community causes and initiatives over the years but endorsing early learning in our children and providing a platform for promoting education ranks right up there,” said Bob Baierl. “The time is now for literacy to be a priority for our futures. First Books is taking a great step forward in the city of Pittsburgh. We’re proud to play a minor role in support.”

“We are proud to be a part of this program that will keep our young students reading over the summer,” said PFT President Esposito-Visgitas. “Our members are excited to begin what we hope will be a long relationship with First Book and our community partners in Pittsburgh. Together we will help our children become lifelong readers and learners.”

“First Book is one of EcoMedia’s newest national nonprofit partners and it is with great joy that we are in Pittsburgh celebrating Baierl Automotive’s outstanding investment in the young students of this community. Through its EducationAd funding, Baierl Automotive is helping to support First Book’s mission to bring access to new books for children in need,” said Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder of CBS EcoMedia Inc. “Our own mission is to help create these public-private partnerships through our EducationAd, EcoAd and WellnessAd programs. And with the generous matching grant from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the impact of Baierl’s funding is effectively doubled and now extends to every single Kindergartner in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. That’s an extraordinary outcome from an advertising buy and we’re very proud to have made that possible.”

About Baierl Automotive
Baierl Automotive is driven to offer the best car buying experience in the greater Pittsburgh area. The company, founded in the early Fifties, has grown into one of the largest dealerships in the tri-state area offering an unparalleled commitment to a hassle-free buying process, customer education, incredible selection and fair pricing. Its twelve dealerships carry the best brands on the road: Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota, Scion and Isuzu trucks. The company employs over 500 associates dedicated for the best buying and service experience imaginable. The Baierl family has also always been focused on community involvement through numerous charities and philanthropic efforts. It’s all part the corporate vision, Driven to be Better.

About First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that 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 them online or follow their latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.
At EcoMedia we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002. In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media.

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide. In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change. Please visit ecomedia.cbs.com to learn more.

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities. EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.

About Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers represents classroom educators, paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The PFT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers.

EcoMedia

EcoMedia

At CBS EcoMedia Inc., we have a vision: To harness the power of advertising and channel it into tangible social change.

Since the founding of the company in 2001, our team has worked tirelessly to develop and hone an advertising model that would transform this ideal into reality.

It was with great pride that in 2011 and 2012, we launched our EcoAd, WellnessAd, and EducationAd programs. These unique product offerings are based on our patent-pending ad model through which our clients, in collaboration with our wide network of non-profit partners, provide financial support for critical, yet underfunded, environmental, health, and education projects in communities nationwide.

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