TOYS FOR TOTS LITERACY PROGRAM DELIVERS THE GIFT OF LITERACY TO CHILDREN

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program is helping raise awareness of the issue of children's literacy...  More »

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program is helping raise awareness of the issue of children's literacy and the importance of families reading together. A year-round initiative of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, the program offers our nation's most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and to communicate effectively. As the exclusive sponsor of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, participating The UPS Store (r) locations collect monetary donations throughout the year. Every dollar donated places a book into the hands of a less fortunate child in the local community. To raise awareness of the need for initiatives like the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, The UPS Store network has enlisted the assistance of the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and its president and founder, Sharon Darling. "The ability to read is the foundation on which the rest of an education is built. However, far too many families can't foster a love of reading and learning because they don't have access to the resources they need, including books," said Darling. "The National Center for Educational Statistics released a report asserting that 33 percent of all fourth graders in this country cannot read at grade level. This puts at risk their futures and their ability to become actively engaged adults and productive members of society." The program suggests people consider purchasing a copy of a favorite childhood book and sharing its magic with a child who may not know the joy of having a book of his or her own. The NCFL and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program have also developed a book list as a guide for parents to use in selecting quality books for their children. Since the March 2008 launch of the program, The UPS Store network has raised more than $1 million, enabling the purchase of an equal number of books. For more information or to donate, please visit www.ToysforTotsLiteracy.org.  « Less