DENVER — Members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver each had the opportunity to select three free books to take home — as well as books for the club to keep in its education center — on National Reading Day (Thursday, Jan. 23). Denver7 anchors and employees had a great time helping kids find books they’d enjoy and encouraging a love of reading.
This Book Fair was part of the Denver7 Read to Lead program, our station’s community commitment to supporting literacy in Colorado by increasing access to books, encouraging reading and educating on the importance of reading for all ages.
The books students at the Cope Club received were purchased with funds raised through the If You Give A Child A Book campaign, which asks employees of The E.W. Scripps Company (Denver7’s parent company) to donate to help put books in the hands of kids in need across the company. Thanks to contributions from employees and partners, Denver7 will be distributing more than 4,700 books — purchased through a partnership with Scholastic — to children in need in our community this year.
The Book Fair was just the beginning. In addition, Denver7 is partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies’ mobile pantry this summer to feed both bodies and minds. Food Bank of the Rockies takes its mobile pantry to low-income neighborhoods during the summer months, when students don’t have access to free and reduced-cost meals at schools, to ensure they have nutritious food to eat. Denver7 will join the mobile pantry to distribute books to students, who also don’t have access to school libraries during the summer months.
Why is literacy important to Denver7 and The E.W. Scripps Company? Because it is crucial to success in school and in life. Children living in poverty begin their lives with a host of disadvantages, including poor literacy skills. More than 60% of low-income families have no children’s books in their home. Denver7 book distribution events like this Book Fair are designed to ensure that more low-income families have children’s books at home.
To learn more about the Denver7 Read to Lead program, visit www.TheDenverChannel.com/ReadToLead.
Click here to learn more about If You Give A Child A Book.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver changes lives. From the first day of kindergarten to high school graduation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver helps kids succeed in school, develop good character and citizenship, and live healthy lives. At 20 neighborhood Clubs and a sleepaway summer camp, Club members have safe, supportive, fun and enriching environments that inspire and empower them to achieve their greatest potential. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s nationally recognized programs at www.GreatFutures.org.