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Reading Is Fundamental and Colgate-Palmolive Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by Giving Children Access to Multicultural Books
Twenty-four RIF sites in six states to receive Hispanic lending libraries
 Washington—October 9, 2008—Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s oldest and largest children and families’ literacy nonprofit organization, and Colgate-Palmolive announced today that 24 local RIF programs will receive a lending library of books tailored to the needs of Hispanic children and their families. The 24 sites in California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Texas have each received a unique collection of 125 books, courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive and RIF.
The announcement took place at a literacy celebration at Joseph A Gascon Elementary School in Los Angeles. Amada Irma Perez, a children’s author of one of the donated titles, attended the event, reading aloud to 180 children—each of whom went home with a signed book.
“Colgate-Palmolive is pleased to partner with RIF to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month,” Marie Agnes Daumas, Marketing Director, Colgate-Palmolive. “By helping to provide children access to bilingual books at school, we hope to motivate them to read and thereby enhance their educational experience.”
Several of the books in this special collection highlight themes and issues that are culturally relevant to families of Hispanic heritage. These books in Spanish and English appeal to elementary school-aged children and include titles such as A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Álvarez (grades 1-2), My Very Own Room/ Mi Propio Cuartito by Amada Irma Perez (grades 3-4) and Naomi Leon by Pam Muñoz Ryan (grades 5-6).
“Research attests to the value of multicultural literature,” said Carol H. Rasco, RIF president and CEO. “We are grateful to Colgate-Palmolive for their support of RIF programs serving Hispanic communities. These book collections can help motivate children to become lifelong readers.”
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.6 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.rif.org.
Discover the Joy!
For more information, contact:
Layla Wright-Contreras,
Media Relations Manager
202-536-3528
lwright@rif.org
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