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First Book and Barclays Capital Provide Books to Harlem Children’s Zone Children
Reading Party Celebrates Donated Books for Every Classroom Library
First Book and Barclays Capital Provide Books to Harlem Children’s Zone Children
Reading Party Celebrates Donated Books for Every Classroom Library
Published 06-05-09
Submitted by First Book
WASHINGTON. - June 5, 2009 "“ First Book today announces that Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy I will receive 1,500 books for their students through a nationwide initiative in partnership with Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. Geoffrey Canada, President and Chief Executive Officer for Harlem Children's Zone, will be on hand today when First Book, a nonprofit providing new books to children in need, and Barclays Capital host a reading party to deliver the books. The donation will increase the number of books in the school’s classroom libraries and give each student two brand new books to take home to help build their home libraries.
Employees of Barclays Capital host the celebratory reading party with the entire first-grade of Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy I today, Friday, June 5 at 9:00 a.m. when 25 employee volunteers will read to the 90 first-grade students. Each of the first-graders will receive a special first edition copy of The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense children’s book, written to address financial literacy and learning for children. The special edition is co-branded by the First Book Marketplace and Barclays Capital. Each of the 350 students in the school will receive two books to take home.
"First Book is tremendously grateful for the commitment of partners like Barclays Capital, who help children develop a love of reading and learning by bringing them the power of new books," said First Book President, Kyle Zimmer. "We know that access to books helps create readers for life and we applaud Barclays Capital for their dedication in reaching children from low-income families. We salute their enthusiastic support for this special edition, which makes lessons on spending and saving accessible to all children."
"Education is the key to climbing out of poverty and literacy is critical to a child’s educational success," said Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone. "For our kids to develop a life-long love of reading, they need to have easy access to great books. That’s why I am thrilled that Barclays Capital and First Book can help our parents have books on hand to share with their children."
The statistics on access to books highlight the need to significantly increase the availability of books in low-income neighborhoods. According to Susan B. Neuman in the Handbook of Early Literacy Research, while there is an average of 13 books for every child in middle income neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. First Book’s system of large-scale book donations grants unprecedented access to programs serving children in low-income households, making book ownership a reality rather than a luxury.
Gerard LaRocca, Barclays Capital’s Chief Administrative Officer for the Americas, said, "Barclays Capital is honored to partner with First Book in extending this program to Harlem Children’s Zone. We are committed to supporting organizations which look to increase children’s financial literacy. We hope that this donation to Harlem Children’s Zone will support the students in reaching their full potential and help equip them with the tools to meet the challenges of today’s economy."
About First Book
First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy "“ access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 60 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit www.firstbook.org or call 866-393-1222.
About Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc.
Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc., is a nationally renowned nonprofit that offers a unique, comprehensive network of education, social-service and community-building programs for children and families in Central Harlem. www.hcz.org
Editor’s Note: Harlem Children’s Zone Address: Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy I,
175 West 134th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
