On Wednesday, Sept. 29, The Guardian will be one of 27 newspapers across Canada taking part in Postmedia Raise-a-Reader Day, in support of family literacy.
It’s the one morning each year that volunteers hit the streets in their bright orange T-shirts and trade a special-edition copy of the newspaper for donations to Raise-a-Reader.
Statistics reveal that four out of 10 adult Canadians aged 16 to 65 — representing nine million Canadians — struggle with low literacy. According to the International Adult Literacy Survey, low literacy levels are linked to low employment levels and high crime rates.
One hundred per cent of the money collected on Raise-a-Reader Day stays in the local community, helping fund many local family literacy programs, including the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance.
“Reading is something many of us take for granted,” said Guardian publisher Don Brander.
“But try to imagine your life without the ability to access information, enjoy a book or even read a prescription label and you realize what a true gift reading is. With the generosity of P.E.I. citizens we’re going to help improve literacy in our community on Raise-a-Reader Day.”
Since its national launch in 2002, the Raise-a-Reader campaign has raised $15 million for family literacy programs across Canada. Money raised goes to the family literacy programs, libraries and school libraries in the greatest need, throughout Prince Edward Island.
Postmedia Raise-a-Reader is supported in part by generous national sponsors. Returning this year are 7-Eleven Stores, Global Television and presenting partner, Country Inns and Suites By Carlson™.
Carlson Hotels Canada represents a number of well-known hotel and travel industry brands and features Country Inns and Suites as Raise-a-Reader’s primary partner. Country Inns and Suites have been promoting literacy with their “Read It and Return” lending library for years.
This unique initiative invites guests and their children to borrow books from the hotels and return them at any time in future, at any location.
Postmedia Raise-a-Reader is also supported by many local sponsors. Guardian sponsors include D.P. Murphy Inc, Confederation Centre of the Arts and Colours.
For more information, contact Joelene Spencer, Newspaper In Education co-ordinator for The Guardian, phone: (902) 629-6000 ext. 6086; fax: (902)-566-3808; email: jspencer@theguardian.pe.ca.
