THINK Together employees & volunteers sort through thousands of books donated during the OC Fair as part of the non-profit's annual book drive, which has collected over 100,000 books to give to kids.
Santa Ana, California (PRWEB) October 17, 2014
THINK Together, California’s largest non-profit provider of publicly funded expanded learning programs, has collected over 100,000 books this year to be distributed into the community through its Early Literacy and Math program in partnership with the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.
The donated children’s books go to schools and preschools, Boys and Girls Clubs, doctor’s office waiting rooms and many other places where children have a chance to take a book home and build their own library.
“Research shows that children who are read to early and often are more prepared when they start kindergarten,” said Dr. Maria Minon, Chair of the Children and Families Commission. “The Commission invests in programs that focus on children’s readiness for school. Our goal is for all children to be reading proficiently by third grade, and to be prepared to reach their full educational potential. This book drive is one step in ensuring children have access to books and early reading opportunities.”
This past July, through a partnership with the OC Fair, the organization was able to collect over 55,000 children’s books in a single day. On “We Care Wednesday,” OC fairgoers who arrived between 12 noon and 3 p.m. received free Fair admission and a carnival ride by donating one new or three gently used children’s books during the annual children’s book drive.
“We Care Wednesday is one of the programs the OC Fair staff is most proud of as it is an opportunity we provide our fairgoers to give back to the community,” said Doug Lofstrom, OC Fair CEO.
“We thank the OC Fair and the Children and Families Commission for once again partnering with us in our goal of creating opportunities for all kids to discover their passions and reach their full potential,” said THINK Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “These book drives allow us to distribute much-needed books to children which helps them and their families build a brighter future through literacy.”
One of the community recipients of this year’s book drive was Oak View Preschool in Huntington Beach, Calif. “We appreciate THINK Together contributing to our community by providing new or gently used books for our children and their families,” said school Principal Joyce Horowitz. “We use the books to offer book giveaways in which the children get to select a book (or two or three), write their names in them and take them home. It helps provide books for families who may not have the money to pay for them.”
About THINK Together
THINK Together is a nonprofit organization collaborating with communities, parents and other stakeholders to transform and galvanize the K-12 educational system, creating excellence and equity for all kids. We Teach, Help, Inspire and Nurture Kids to reach their full potential. It has grown into the state’s largest provider of Expanded Learning Time programs (early literacy, after-school, summer learning, etc.), currently serving more than 100,000 students at more than 400 locations across 40 school districts from San Diego to Silicon Valley. Partnering with school administrators and teachers, its academic programs and dedicated team of 3,000 employees are helping students statewide. THINK is an acronym: Teaching, Helping, Inspiring & Nurturing Kids. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK, visit our website at http://www.THINKtogether.org, or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/THINKtogether.
About the Children and Families Commission of Orange County
The Children and Families Commission of Orange County oversees the allocation of funds from Proposition 10, which added a 50-cent tax on tobacco products sold in California. Almost $29 million was allocated last year to fund 161 programs that served more than 136,000 young children. Funds help pay for early education, pediatric primary and specialty health care, children’s dental, homeless prevention, and child development programs for children from the prenatal stage to age 5 and their families. The Commission’s goal is to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. For more information, please visit http://www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.