Approximately 250 children and their families will receive books to help close the literacy opportunity gap this holiday season
BOSTON, Mass., December 16, 2020 – Raising A Reader MA (RAR-MA) in collaboration with TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, today announced they are distributing books to approximately 250 area children and their families in time for the holiday season. Book distribution was made possible through a donation from TD Bank. All books were purchased from local, Black-owned small business Frugal Bookstore in Roxbury, Mass.
“We’re proud to partner with TD Bank to put forever books into the hands of families during this holiday season,” said Christine Ward, Executive Director of Raising A Reader MA. “By working with Frugal Bookstore, we have the unique opportunity to support a local, minority-owned business to achieve our overall goal of empowering children and families to find comfort and escape in books. We’re grateful to work with TD Bank to support our partners and families as well as important businesses in our community.”
The distributed books will focus on diverse and inclusive content that allows book recipients to see themselves in the stories’ characters. This work is aligned with TD Bank and Raising A Reader MA’s deep commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as Frugal Bookstore’s passion for promoting literacy among community children, teens and adults.
“It’s always a delight to partner with different organizations in our community to provide books to children who need them this holiday season and to share our love of reading,” said Leonard Egerton, owner of Frugal Bookstore. “However, it’s extra special when children open a book with a character that looks and sounds like them – that’s the icing on the cake.”
Earlier in the day, representatives from TD Bank and Raising A Reader MA came together outside of Frugal Bookstore to highlight this positive collaboration and Raising A Reader MA’s important literacy work in the state.
“TD Bank is pleased to support Raising A Reader MA’s evidence-based programs that unite families, close literacy gaps and put participants on a path to prosperity,” said Steve Webb, Regional President, Southern New England, TD Bank. “TD recognizes that early literacy intervention is critical, and we are proud to collaborate with community partners to provide culturally relevant books to inspire a love of learning. With all the challenges we’ve experienced this year, reading provides an important respite and we are delighted that our donation to Raising a Reader MA will be used to support Boston-area families as well as a local small business.”
To learn more about Raising A Reader MA, please visit: www.raisingareaderma.org.