Valley businesses participate in #GrowAReader Virtual Book Drive during May
Local restaurants and businesses are encouraging their customers to support early childhood literacy during the month of May through Southwest Human Development’s virtual book drive, Grow A Reader. The campaign aims to provide books for children in low-income communities.
According to a Scholastic Access to Books report, the average child has 13 books in their home library, but children in low-income neighborhoods have just one book for every 300 kids.
“For families that might struggle to put food on the table, books can be an expense that doesn’t quite make the budget,” says Jake Adams, chief development officer for Southwest Human Development. “Grow A Reader is an opportunity for everyone to support the literacy and development of kids who might not have access to books that help lay the foundation for them to succeed in kindergarten and later in life.”
To take part in Grow A Reader, supporters can pick a “flower” at participating Phoenix businesses (listed below) and then buy books through the online donation cart for children who need them most. Books start at just $3.99 and donations are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar Arizona Charitable Tax Credit of up to $800.
“We’re really excited to welcome Humana as a matching book partner of up to $2,500 for this year’s Grow A Reader campaign,” adds Adams. “That means when people donate two books, it becomes four, or when people donate five books, it becomes 10! This is really going to help us get more books to families throughout the Valley.”
Donated books are distributed to families who participate in Southwest Human Development’s early literacy programs like Raising A Reader, part of a program that focuses on strengthening family literacy routines and community literacy connections, and Reach Out and Read, a national, evidence-based program that promotes early literacy in pediatric offices.
Grow A Reader wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our favorite local businesses that have teamed up for this month-long drive to help Arizona kids!
Is your business interested in joining the Grow A Reader campaign?
Download our business information sheet to learn more.
Questions? Contact Annette Sutfin at (602) 633-8416 or asutfin@swhd.org.