TOYS FOR TOTS LITERACY PROGRAM GIVES
BOOKS TO NATION'S LESS-FORTUNATE
~ Research Shows
that Children Lose Much of What They've Learned During
the School Year Over Summer Break ~
May 2011
(San Diego, CA, May, 2011)
- The UPS Store locations across the country will begin
focusing on the importance of summer reading with their
spring donation drive for the Toys for Tots Literacy
Program. This year-round initiative of the Marine Toys
for Tots Foundation, offers the 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.
This summer, the company
is focusing on summer reading initiatives because of
research that children lose much of what they've learned
during the school year over summer break. This "summer
slide" can be even more devastating to children in lower
income families:
-
At best, students showed little or no academic
growth over summer. At worst, students lost one
to three months of learning. (National Summer Learning
Association, "Research in Brief: Kids Lose Learning
Skills Over the Summer Months").
-
For disadvantaged students, reading scores were
disproportionately affected and the achievement
gap between rich and poor widened. (National Summer
Learning Association, "Research in Brief: Kids Lose
Learning Skills Over the Summer Months").
As the exclusive sponsor
of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, participating
The UPS Store locations will sell children's activity
sheets through Tuesday, May 31. The donations received
for the activity sheets will be used to purchase books
for less-fortunate children in the local community.
Centers will continue additional fundraising activities
throughout the year, including a coin box program for
customers to donate their spare change.
In addition, Mail Boxes Etc.,
Inc., franchisor of The UPS Store, will give the Toys
for Tots Literacy Program additional support by purchasing
a book for a less-fortunate child for every online print
job they receive during the month of May. The franchisor
will donate up to a maximum of $20,000 worth of books.
For more information on the Toys for Tots Literacy Program,
please visit www.toysfortots.org/literacy.
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