Children and families throughout B.C. will continue to benefit from innovative literacy programs in their community thanks to a provincial investment of $500,000 to support this year’s Raise-a-Reader campaign.

The annual week-long campaign supports literacy by increasing awareness and raising money to fund community-based programs throughout B.C. Families and children engage in reading, playing and other activities that help develop literacy skills through programs, such as:

• Vancouver Public Library’s Man in the Moon program, which provides opportunities for fathers and other male caregivers to learn how to support early literacy and language development in their children.
• The Kamloops literacy task group’s Bright Red Bookshelves program and Bright Red Book Bus programs, which support 22 community bookshelves in Kamloops and a library bus full of books that travels to schools and parks.

• The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy –– Castlegar’s Together to Learn program, which provides a healthy snack and onsite child minding for parents who are working on adult basic education courses at Kootenay Family Place.

The campaign features daily stories in the Vancouver Sun’s print and online editions that highlight literacy and library programs. Anyone can donate to Raise-a-Reader online here: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/11502

The campaign was created by the Vancouver Sun in 1997. Since then, the Vancouver campaign alone has raised over $8 million with support from the Province. The government supports Raise-a-Reader in partnership with the Vancouver Sun and Decoda Literacy Solutions, the only provincewide literacy organization in British Columbia.

Quotes:

Rob Fleming, Minister of Education –

“Children throughout B.C. are getting the opportunity to develop important literacy skills in their communities, and it is thanks in large part to everyone’s contributions to Raise-a-Reader this year. Literacy skills play a vital role in helping children and their families lead full and happy lives. I encourage anyone who is able to contribute what they can towards this great cause in the future.”

Jacquie Taylor, executive director, Decoda Literacy Solutions –

“We appreciate the government of B.C.’s ongoing support for literacy and learning. Communities across the province benefit from Raise-a-Reader funds, creating literacy programs and services for children and families in response to their community needs.”

Leza Maloney, local marketing manager, Vancouver Sun –

“Together with our valued partners in government and throughout B.C., the Vancouver Sun’s Raise-a-Reader program provides important tools and builds fundamental life skills that we believe are vital to our communities. Postmedia is grateful to all our esteemed partners for their continued dedication and participation in this essential reading initiative.”

Learn More:

Decoda Literacy: www.decoda.ca/literacy-in-bc/

Raise-a-Reader: www.raise-a-reader.com